Abstract

HERNANDEZ-FUENTES, Luis Martín; URIAS-LOPEZ, Mario Alfonso; LOPEZ ARROYO, José Isabel  and  LOPEZ ARRIAGA, Jaime Gustavo. Use of attractants and nutritional supplements to increase mango white scale's, Aulacaspis tubercularis Newstead (Hemiptera: Diaspididae). Acta Zool. Mex [online]. 2012, vol.28, n.1, pp.145-160. ISSN 2448-8445.

Mango is an economically important crop in Mexico, important population increases of mango white scale Aulacaspis tubercularis have been observed. The application of attractive nutritional supplements to arrest and/or attract predators of A. tubercularis were evaluated during two seasons. Application of 0.25 mL of methyl salicilate per tree has an effect on the number of eggs of Ceraeochrysa spp. Adults of Pentilia spp were lured whit different doses of methy salicilate (MS). Whit 4 mL of MS per tree, 60% fewer groups of A. tubercularis nymphs occurred. In the first year, adults of the predator Chilochorus cacti were no observed, but in the second year, the use of sugar, yeast and powdered milk had an attractive effect. More eggs of Ceraeochrysa spp were observed when water plus yeast plus sugar treatments were applied. At two sites, nymphs of A. tubercularis decreased in the second year, in the first site decrease reached 65.6% while in the second site it was 93% in comparison to the untreated controls. The observed abatement is attributed to a general increase in predator numbers and their action on pest population.

Keywords : pests; mango; attractants; biological control.

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