Prediction of the Population of the Peach White Scale Insect (Pseudaulacaspis pentagona) Employing Climatic Factors and the Efficacy of two Bioinsecticides Against It in the field

Abstract

Climatic variables (e.g., temperature, relative humidity, and light) Affect the biology and ecology of insect pests and diseases. The current investigation deals with the prediction of the populations of white peach scale insect (Pseudaulacaspis pentagona) using the climatic factors depending on the pest populations during the years of the study (1st. February 2022 till mid-January 2023), at Meet Ghamer, Dakahliya governorate, Egypt. Moreover, the population of the associated parasite Aphytis sp. is considered in this study as well the rate of parasitism. To acquire information about climatic factors affecting the Insect populations at different stages, a stepwise was regression analysis conducted. Moreover, the data collected about climatic Factors and population studied insects in different stages were exposed to stepwise regression analysis. Results indicated that the population of P. pentagona stages is possible to predict using specific elements of the weather i.e. minimum air temperature and average relative humidity are predictors for a population of pre-adults, maximum air temperature and light are predictors for a population of adults. however, the prediction of the gravid population depends on maximum, minimum, and average air temperature and light. Finally, total population prediction
model mainly depends on maximum air temperature and relative humidity. It has also been evaluated the efficiency of some alternative insecticides for controlling the white peach scale P. pentagona under field conditions. The obtained results proved that, some alternative insecticides for controlling the white peach scale, P. pentagona compared with organophorus compounds. So, it prefers to use the bioinsecticides and IGR compounds. To control scale insects in the IPM program and more studies should
be carried out on the bio-insecticides to improve their efficiency for controlling insect pests to minimize the environmental pollution of pesticides.