Diversity of scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) attacking citrus trees in Machakos, Makueni, Kilifi and Kwale Counties, Kenya

Abstract

Citrus farming is a major source of revenue for large and small-scale farmers in Kenya. Citrus production is confronted with threats from pests and diseases. Surveys of citrus farms in Kilifi, Kwale, Machakos and Makueni counties, Kenya in July/August (dry season) and in November/December (wet season), 2019 were conducted to identify scale insect pests (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) attacking the trees (Sapindales: Rutaceae), and their related biota. A total of 22 scale insect species belonging to four families, namely Diaspididae (armoured scales), Coccidae (soft scales), Pseudococcidae (mealybugs), and Monophlebidae (giant mealybugs) were found infesting citrus trees in the two regions surveyed. Among the scale insects reported, four species were newly introduced in Kenya; three armoured scales Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas), Parlatoria pergandii (Comstock), Aonidiella comperei (McKenzie), and a soft scale, Pulvinaria polygonata (Cockerell). The scale insects were closely associated with predators (coccinellids and lacewings) and attendant ants. This information will be helpful in the development of efficient management strategies against the scale insect pests, thus improving citrus production in Kenya. The scale insect pests identified in this study will be useful to plant quarantine facilities in Kenya to help to prevent and detect accidental introductions of exotic scale insect species.

Un método para establecer la viabilidad de las poblaciones de la araña trampera Amblyocarenum en áreas urbanas: un estudio piloto

“…Nevertheless, the results show that this habitat seems to be suboptimal, due to a significantly smaller number of spiderlings; 40 % of burrows (n= 26) were smaller than 5 mm. Several studies have reported relatively high diversity and abundance of arthropods in citric orchards from all over the world (Deshmukh & Chaudhari, 2016;Gama, 2017;Michael et al, 2021), and especially the patches. These ground edges can be almost vertical and higher, like in an abandoned land at the industrial area of Daimús (Fig.…”

New records of scale insects and mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) in Kenya

“…solenopsis . Information is also reported on Parlatoria pergandii and P. ziziphi which had been reported from Kenya earlier this year (Githae et al, 2021). Some of the above species were damaging crops.…”

“…Comments. This record was mentioned by Githae et al (2021), based on a single specimen identified by the last author. The area of origin of chaff scale is uncertain, but it is not native to Africa.…”

“…Comments. Githae et al (2021) mentioned this record, based on material identified by the last author. The area of origin of black parlatoria scale was probably Southern China, but it has been spread more widely on infested citrus planting material.…”

“…Even sampling only a few Kenyan counties found new country records of alien introduced species, some of which are potentially invasive in the absence of their natural enemies. Here we provide an annotated list of 19 introduced scale insect and mealybug species collected from Kenya for the first time in 2017‒2020 including details of 2 species ( Parlatoria pergandii and Parlatoria ziziphi ) that were first reported earlier this year (Githae et al, 2021). There are new records from three scale insect families: Coccidae (two species), Diaspididae (11 species), and Pseudococcidae (four species).…”