Infestation of Aulacaspis tubercularis (Homoptera: Diaspididae) on Mango Fruits at Different Stages of Fruit Development, in Western Ethiopia

Abstract

The occurrence of white mango scale, Aulacaspis tubercularis in Ethiopia was reported for the first time from a mango orchard in western Ethiopia by 2010. It spread and has become a threat to mango production. This study was aimed at investigating the levels of infestations of Aulacaspis tubercularis on mango fruits at different stages of fruit development. Level of infestation was found to be the highest at yellow stage with significant difference from green and pre-yellow (p< 0.01). However, there was no statistical difference in levels of infestations between green and pre-yellow stages. The fruit was infested more by the female pest with significant difference from the male (p< 0.01). The level of infestation by female Aulacaspis tubercularis among the three stages of fruit development was also found to be statistically different (p< 0.01). Infestation by the male pest was significantly the highest at the yellow stage compared to pre-yellow and green stages. The current research concluded that white mango scale infested mango fruit starting mainly when the fruit began to have matured, and reached its peak when it was ripe. Moreover, it was confirmed that mango fruit was infested more by the female pest in the study area. It was recommended that the measures to be designed to control white mango scale should pay due attention mainly to the female white mango scale.

Keywords: Fruit, mango, infestation, Aulacaspis tubercularis