Host preference of certain mango varieties to infestation with the mango shield scale, Milviscutulus mangiferae (Green) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) in Ismailia governorate, Egypt

Abstract

A field study was carried out at a private mango orchard at Abu-Suwair district in Ismailia Governorate, Egypt during two successive years from (January 2018 to December 2019) to study the performance of some mango varieties to infestation with the mango shield scale, Milviscutulus mangiferae (Green) (Hemiptera: Coccidae). The obtained results showed that insect population of M. mangiferae occurred on all different mango varieties all the year round and has three peaks of seasonal activity per year, which was recorded in January, June/July and November over the year. The obtained results indicated that the mango varieties varied significantly in their susceptibility to population density of M. mangiferae. Ewaise mango variety was the highest population density and was rated as highly susceptible (H.S.) to infestation by the total population density of M. mangiferae, followed by Zebda and Fagri Kalan mango varieties were appeared as susceptible (S), while, Balady variety was observed to be relatively resistant (RR). But, Sakary variety had the lowest population density and was rated as relative resistant (RR) of pest over the entire year. These pieces of information can be useful for establishing IPM strategies against this pest.