Management of a main citrus pest black parlatoria scale <i>Parlatoria ziziphin</i> (Lucas) (Hemiptera: Dasypodidae) in the Mediterranean basin

Abstract

The scale of black parlatoria, Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), causes considerable damage to citrus fruits in the Mediterranean basin. For well managed this pest, we carried out a thorough ecological and behavioral study on the preference of localization and fixation of this pest on the citrus tree throughout the year for two years in six different citrus orchards to know: the lemon, the clementinier and the orange variety Thomson and washington in Tizi Ouzou, sub-humid region of the Mediterranean, in the North of Algeria. This new information on the biology and behavior of P. ziziphi could be applied to the definition of a better pest management strategy and to improvement of sampling methodology for monitoring this devastating pest by the good recognition of its place of infestations.