JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
Integrity Research Journals
ISSN: 2536-7072
Model: Open Access/Peer Reviewed
DOI: 10.31248/JASP
Start Year: 2016
Email: jasp@integrityresjournals.org
Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) associated with scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) on citrus trees in Coastal and Lower Eastern Counties, Kenya
https://doi.org/10.31248/JASP2020.239 | Article Number: C9BF0D654 | Vol.5 (6) - December 2020
Received Date: 11 November 2020 | Accepted Date: 02 December 2020 | Published Date: 30 December 2020
Authors: Michael Githae* , George O. Ong’amo , John Nderitu , Gillian W. Watson and Wanja Kinuthia
Keywords: honeydew, Kenya, Hemipteran-ant association, mealybugs, soft scales.
A survey of citrus orchards was conducted in Kilifi, Kwale, Machakos and Makueni counties, Kenya to collect and identify ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and natural enemies associated with scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) feeding on citrus trees (Sapindales: Rutaceae). Nine ant species were found associated with nine scale insect species feeding on three citrus species (Citrus limon, C. reticulata and C. sinensis) for their honeydew. The ants associated with the scales in the study areas were: Cataulacus brevisetosus (Forel), Camponotus rufiglaucus (Jerdon), Crematogaster castanea (Smith), Cr. sjostedti (Mayr), Monomorium afrum (Andre), Myrmicaria opaciventris (Emery), Oecophylla longinoda (Latreille), Pheidole megacephalla (Fabricius), and Technomyrmex albipes (Fr. Smith). The ant Myrmicaria opaciventris was recorded attending four scale insects’ species: Coccus hesperidum, Co. viridis, Pulvinaria polygonata (Hemiptera: Coccidae) and Pseudococcus cryptus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Kilifi County. Host-plant identities and localities surveyed are also presented. These new data for citrus-growing areas in Kenya will contribute to the development of integrated pest management programs on citrus.
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