Quantifying the impact of the predator guild on California red scale in Spanish citrus

Abstract

California red scale (CRS), Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), is a cosmopolitan and polyphagous insect which is considered one of the most important pests of citrus worldwide. Control of CRS relies largely on pesticides since the complex of natural enemies associated to citrus is generally unable to keep CRS populations under economic injury levels. Integrated pest management (IPM) programs of CRS implemented to date mainly focus on augmentation and conservation of parasitoid populations, hence, underestimating the role of predators as CRS effective natural enemies. The aim of this study was to determine the predator species of CRS in citrus and to assess their contribution to the regulation of this pest.