Cottony cushion scale

Biological and Natural Controls. Parasites and predators are effective in limiting the numbers of pest Insects and plant pathogens both in nature and for crops (35). This basic fact led to the development of biological controls. For example, the vedalia beetle, which was Introduced for control of cottony cushion scale on citrus in California, has provided continuous effective control of this pest for many decades. Worldwide only approximately 1% of the pests have been effectively controlled by Introduced biological control agents (43). 

Charles V. Riley Imported the Australian lady beetle to control cottony cushion scale on citrus... 

Leaves turn yellow and fall tree declines. Cause Scales. Various types of scales infest citrus trees, causing decline. Trees may suffer from twig dieback and reduced vigor, and leaves may be covered with honeydew excreted by the scales as well as sooty mold, which feeds on the honeydew. Cottony cushion scale looks like white, cottony masses clustered on leaves, stems, and branches. Red. brown, or black scale may look like crusty, waxy, or smooth bumps on leaves, trunk, stems, or fruit. Many natural enemies keep scale insects in check. If scale infestation is heavy, introduce outside predators for additional control. You must choose the species of predator that feeds on your species of scale. For example, Vidalia... 

Cottony blight, lawns and. 136 Cottony cushion scale, 321 citrus and, 73... 

Biological predators. This method consists of releasing a biological predator to control the insect pest. In the United Kingdom its only successes have been in enclosed environments such as glasshouses. However, the technique was used very successfully nearly 100 years ago in California when the Australian ladybird beetle was introduced as a predator for cottony cushion scale which was ravaging citrus trees. 

After an investigation of the formation of honeydew by insects growing on citrus plants. Wolf and Ewart found that the melezitose-containing honeydew of the cottony-cushion scale, Icerya purchasi Mask, contains an enz)une capable of forming melezitose from sucrose. Bacon and Dickinson clarified the relation ip between the insects and the mother plants and... 

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