ISHS Acta Horticulturae 275: International Symposium on the Culture of Subtropical and Tropical Fruits and Crops
THE WHITE PEACH SCALE, PSEUDAULACASPIS PENTAGONA (TARGIONI-TOZZETTI) (HOMOPTERA: DIASPIDAE), A PEST OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE ON GRANADILLA |
| Author: | C. Crause |
| Abstract:
The white peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni-Tozzetti) is a pest on the purple granadilla, Passiflora edulis Sims which is often grafted onto the rootstock of the red granadilla, Passiflora caerulea L.. The adult female feeds on the main stem of the granadilla and it moves up to the vines as the infestation increases. Severe infestations of the scale can cause die back of the granadilla stems and eventually the entire plant can die. The white peach scale can be bred on butternut pumpkins, Cucurbita moschata Duch. and potato, Solanum tuberosum L.. At 25°C a life cycle took 42 to 56 days. The purple granadilla, Passiflora edulis and the yellow granadilla, Passiflora edulis forma flavicarpa Degener are very susceptible to the white peach scale. It was also found that seedlings contaminated with scale, died prematurely after being planted out. Two parasitoids have been identified in South Africa, namely Aspidiotiphagus sp. and Arrhenophagus chionaspidis Aurivillius, but they are not able to keep the white peach scale under control. A few parasitoids are found in other countries which should be introduced if biological control of the white peach scale is to be achieved. | |
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