THE ROLE OF COCCOPHAGUS SCUTELLARIS (HYMENOPTERA: APHELINIDAE) IN THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF SOFT SCALE INSECTS (HOMOPTERA: COCCIDAE) IN EGYPT

Abstract Coccophagus scutellaris (Dalman) is one of the specific parasitoids that attack soft scale insects in Egypt. In the present study, C. scutellaris was reared from 6 species of soft scale insects. These are Ceroplastes flori-densis Comstock, Coccus hesperidum L., Pulvinaria floccgera (Westwood), P. psidii Maskell, Saissetia coffeae (Walker) and S. oleae (Oliver). The abundance of C. scutellaris was monitored from July to Nov. 1999–2000 in five localities in Egypt, the Beni-Suef, Cairo, Giza, Gharbiya and the Northern coast. C. scutellaris is considered an effective parasitoid of S. coffeae and S. oleae with maximum parasitism rates reaching 26% and 22% in Nov. and Aug. 1999, respectively.