natural enemies armoured scales
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Aphytis spp parasitic wasp against armoured scales
Appearance: Aphytis is a small yellow parasitic wasp , 1-2 mm in size. Difference between males and females is not very obvious. The female wasp lays her eggs under the scale-cover on the back of the host's body. Sometimes more than one egg is deposited onto a single scale-insect. It is difficult to see whether an armoured scale is parasitized or not. As soon as the young parasitoid has emerged, the exit hole shows the scale has been parasitized . Effect/Activity: Aphytis lays her eggs under the scale-cover on the body of its host. For parasitization mainly older instars are selected. Scales are killed by the Aphytis larva eating the body of the scale-insect underneath the scale-cover. Armoured scales accepted as host by Aphytis are a.o.: Aspidiotus nerii, Diaspis echinocacti and Chrysomphalus aonidum. As many other parasitoid species Aphytis is a so called host-feeder. Adult wasps kill early instars of the scale by sucking them. Conditions: Aphytis can be used whenever temperature is more than 19ºC. It is effective at low as well as high humidity levels. Biology: An Aphytis female can lay about 100 eggs. Eggs are laid on the body of the scale-insect underneath the scale-cover. The Aphytis-larva develops outside of the body of the scale-insect under the scale-cover. At 25ºC development from egg to adult takes 17 days. Adult wasps live for 2-6 weeks. Application: APHYTIS can be used in interior landscapes, botanical gardens, zoo's, research greenhouses, nurseries with ornamental plants as well as outdoors in (sub) tropical regions |
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Chilocorus nigritus coccinellid predator of armoured scales
Appearance: Chilocorus nigritus is a shiny-black coccinellid, 4 mm in size and more or less circular in shape. Its head is orange, mostly hidden under the elytra so difficult to see. The larvae are yellow-brown coloured with strong bristles on their entire body. Chilocorus nigritus is a predator of armoured scales. They consume the scale body from underneath the scale-cover by lifting the cover or by gnawing a hole at the edge of the scale-cover. After predation a fringed hole remains. Effect/Activity: Chilocorus is a predator of different species of armoured scales. They can eat all instars of the scales. Chilocorus lifts the cover of the scale-insect and consumes the body of the scale from underneath the cover or gnaws a hole at the edge of the scale-cover eating the insect body from there. Conditions: Chilocorus nigritus has a strong preference for high humidity(>60%) and high temperatures (>22º). Best time to release in indoor situations is from March till September. Biology: At 25ºC the development from egg to adult takes 34 days. An adult Chilocorus can live for several months. During her entire life-span a female can lay 200-300 eggs. Application: CHILOCORUS NIGRITUS can be used successfully in interior landscapes, botanical gardens, zoo's, research greenhouses and ornamental plants. |
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Encarsia citrina parasitic wasp against armoured scales
Appearance: Encarsia citrina is a small yellow and brown parasitic wasp, only 0,5-1,0 mm in size. The eyes are green and on the head they have 3 red dots (=ocelli). Most wasps are female; males are very rare. Parasitized armoured scales are hard to recognize. After parasitization the scale turns somewhat darker and sometimes a dark ring of excrements of the young parasitic wasp is visible. The young parasitic wasp leaves the scale through a small circular hole in the scale cover. Effect/Activity: Encarsia citrina parasitizes small instars of armoured scales, but it is most effective in controlling Pinnaspis aspidistrae, Abgrallaspis cyanophylli and Aspidiotus nerii. Female as well as male hosts are parasitized. Conditions: Encarsia citrina is less effective when temperature is below 20ºC or above 30ºC. Encaria citrina is not very critical towards humidity. Best time to release is from March till October. In spring and autumn percentage parasitism can exceed 80%. Biology: Encarsia citrina grows up from egg to adult inside it's host, the armoured scale. At 25ºC this development takes about 3-4 weeks. A female can lay about 70 eggs in a period of 10-14 days. Application: ENCARSIA CITRINA can be used in botanical gardens, research greenhouses, zoo's, interior landscapes and nurseries for ornamental plants. |
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Rhyzobius lophanthae coccinellid predator against armoured scales
Appearance: Rhyzobius lophanthae is a small black-brown ladybird with small hairs all over the body. Head and thorax are orange. The size of the adult is about 2 mm. The larvae are small, grey and hairless. They have cream coloured dorsal stripes. The pupae are more or less round, orange/brown in colour and difficult to find. The larvae feed primarily on young armoured scales. When Rhyzobius has preyed upon a scale, the scale cover has got fringed holes in it. Effect/Activity: Rhyzobius lophanthae is a predator of different species of armoured scales. The larvae as well as the adults eat the small instars of the armoured scales. Rhyzobius is not effective against armoured scales with a hardened scale-cover. Conditions: For Rhyzobius the optimal temperature is between 22ºC en 26ºC. Rhyzobius is effective at lower as well as higher humidity levels. Biology: At 25ºC the development from egg to adult takes about 30 days. The eggs of Rhyzobius are laid under the scale-cover of the scale-insect. The young larvae eat the body of the scale, making a small hole in the scale-cover. A Rhyzobius female can live for two months. During her entire life-span she can lay about 100 eggs. Application: RHYZOBIUS LOPHANTHAE can be used in interior landscapes, zoo's, botanical gardens, research greenhouses, nurseries with ornamental plants as well as outside in (sub) tropical regions. |
