Biological control of green shield scale, Pulvinaria psidii Maskell, on red ginger in India

摘要

The green shield scale, Pulvinaria psidii Maskell, was found at high levels on red ginger (Alpinia purpurata K. Schum.) at IIHR Farm, Bangalore in June 2006. Following the release of the Australian ladybird beetle, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant @10 / plant, the scale population declined from 174.60 scales / shoot on 15 June to 1.40 / shoot on 1 September in 2006. The population of C. montrouzieri ranged from 3.40 to 10.34 per shoot during the study period. Since no other natural enemies were recorded, the reduction in the population of P. psidii in the red ginger biocontrol plot was attributed mainly to the action of C. montrouzieri.