What are the control methods for mango scale insect pests?

This pest is distributed in Guangdong, Hainan and Guangxi, and is a locally sporadic major pest, causing damage only in a few orchards. It can damage the branches, leaves and fruits of parts of the canopy, sucking the sap from their tissues, causing leaf drop and fruit drop, and in severe cases causing premature decline of the tree. The insect body attaches to the fruit skin, causing insect spots, and secretes large amounts of honeydew and waxes, inducing sooty mold and affecting the appearance of the fruit.

Morphological characteristics There are many species of scale insects that damage mango, and the main species differ with the production area. The main species in the mango production areas of Guangdong and Hainan include the coconut scale (Aspidiotus destructor Signoret); the female scale is round, about 1.8 mm in diameter, light brown, thin and transparent; the newly hatched nymph is light yellow-green, later turning yellow, oval; in spring and summer the whole tree's leaves are damaged, with nymphs and adults clustering on the leaf surface, sucking the leaf sap, causing large numbers of leaves to lose chlorophyll and turn yellow; newly hatched nymphs crawl toward tender leaves and fruits, then fix themselves on the underside of leaves or on fruits to cause damage, and the insect body secretes large amounts of white waxy powder, inducing sooty mold. In recent years in the suburbs of Guangzhou, the mango scale [Aulacaspis tubercularis (Nemst)] has been found causing severe localized damage. In addition, scale insects reported in various places as causing localized damage to mango also include the red wax scale, brown soft scale, arrowhead scale, long scale, mango lac scale, and others.

Control methods (1) Strengthen orchard pruning techniques to improve orchard ventilation and light penetration; during autumn pruning, cut off and remove badly damaged branches entirely and burn them in a centralized manner. (2) Apply pesticide promptly according to the pest situation, especially during the peak period of newly emerged young scales when first-instar nymphs have the weakest resistance to pesticides; the application interval is generally 7-10 days, applied 2-3 times in succession; effective pesticides include 40% Supracide emulsifiable concentrate and 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate sprayed at 1000-1500 times dilution.