Importance and research status of scale insects (Homoptera, Coccoidea) in Serbia

Abstract

Scale insects are dangerous pests on fruit trees, forest and ornamental plants. Feeding on the aerial parts of the plant they cause growth delay, fruit lack, branch and trunk dessication. Faunistics of this group of insects is insufficiently investigated in Serbia. So far, 35 species from six families and 23 genera were recorded. During our long term investigation species Diaspidiotus perniciosus Comstock, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona Targ.-Tozz., Epidiaspis leperii Signoret, Parthenolecanium corni (Bouche), Parthenolecanium persicae (Fabricius) and Pulvinaria vitis (Linnaeus) were found to be the most important pests in orchards and vineyards. On urban ornamental plants most damage cause species Unaspis euonymi (Comstock), Carulaspis juniperi (Bouche), Lepidosaphes juniperi Lindinger, Physokermes hemicryphus (Dalman), Eulecanium tiliae (Linnaeus) and Planococcus vovae (Nasonov). The most important precaution to prevent import and spread of scale insects is obtaining healthy seedlings. Winter spraying with preparations based on mineral oils can be used for controlling scale insects. During vegetation, in the period of first instar occurring, preparations based on methydathion, azinphos methyl, methomyl, buprophesin or selective insecticides based on fenoxycarb can be used, in order to save the pest's natural enemies.

Kao značajne štetočine voćaka, šumskog drveća i dekorativnih biljaka, štitaste vaši su na području Srbije veoma slabo istražene. Osim postojećih, a davno introdukovanih vrsta, poslednjih godina registruje se prisustvo većeg broja vrsta na različitim biljkama, što je posledica, pre svega, intenzivnog prometa biljnog materijala kojim se ovi insekti lako prenose. U radu su prikazane najznačajnije vrste štitastih vaši u voćarstvu, šumarstvu i urbanom zelenilu, koje su, tokom višegodišnjih istraživanja, registrovane u Srbiji. Dati su osnovni podaci o njihovoj biologiji, štetnosti i načinu suzbijanja.