Biology of Noghi scale, Salicicola davatchi, in the pistachio-growing areas of Rafsanjan, Iran

Subject Areas : entomology and othea arthropods

F. Kazemi ¹ , M. R. Mehrnejad ² , A. Rajabi ³ , H. Salmani Nejad ⁴

1 - Pistachio Research Institute, Rafsanjan, Iran
2 - Pistachio Research Institute, Rafsanjan, Iran
3 - Pistachio Research Institute, Rafsanjan, Iran
4 - Pistachio Research Institute, Rafsanjan, Iran

Received: 2015-04-15 Accepted : 2017-03-09 Published : 2017-05-22

Keywords:

Abstract :

The Noghi scale, Salicicola davatchii Balachowski & Kaussari (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) is considered as a pest for cultivated pistachio trees in Iran. This insect sucks up of plant sap and causes trees' weakness as well as decreases of yield quantity and quality. The biology and lifecycle of S. davatchi were studied in commercial pistachio orchards in Rafsanjan, southern part of Iran. The results showed that this scale usually lives on trees' branches, although the nymphs were found on leaves and fruits occasionally. The crawlers move very slowly and just for a very short distances, therefore usually shields of scales are found in piles on branches. The males appear on pistachio branches from  late March that is continued for 20 days, and 7 to 10 days later, eggs were formed under female’s shield. The first stage nymphs appeared on branches from early May and reached the peak 5 to 10 days later. The second nymphal stage appeared at late June. Those scales that develop on either leaves or fruits produce second generation, although these nymphs are unable to complete their lifecycle due to fruit harvesting as well as leaves fall. This species produces one successful generation within a year including two nymphal stages. This scale hibernates as the second nymphal stage.