Potential of chemical, natural materials and insect predators for controlling olive black scale insect, Saissetia oleae (Olivier) (Coccidae: Hemiptera) infesting olive trees
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64171/JAE.6.3.14-20Keywords:
Saissetia oleae, Olive trees, Seasonal abundance, Pesticides, Insect predatorsAbstract
The population fluctuaionand control efficiency of the olive black scale insect, Saissetia oleae (Olivier) (Coccidae: Hemiptera), on olive trees were investigated over two consecutive seasons (September 2023 to August 2024 and September 2024 to August 2025). Populations exhibited clear annual fluctuations, with winter declines followed by pronounced spring and summer peaks. Immatures were more occurring throughout both seasons than adult females, which discloses continuous Two predatory coccinellids; Coccinella undecimpunctata and Exochomus flavipes, were recorded associated with S. oleae during both seasons. Their populations showed positive correlations with the total scale population, indicating a numerical response of the predators to host abundance. Among control treatments, pyriproxyfen was most effective, achieving 88–91% reduction, followed by sulfoxaflor and acetamiprid, while natural materials showed moderate to low efficacy; neem oil and agricultural soap produced moderate reductions, and the soap–vinegar mixture had the lowest effect with a limited residual activity. Spring and early summer peaks indicate critical windows for targeted management. Overall, the findings highlight the nearly year-round activity of S. oleae, and the superior performance of pyriproxyfen and sulfoxaflor.
References
Abd Alaziz MI, Al-Arnaouty SA, Moussa SF, Helmy SM. Efficiency of certain biopesticides against the olive black scale insect, Saissetia oleae (Olivier) on olive trees at Giza Governorate, Egypt. Egypt Acad J Biol Sci A Entomol. 2012;5(2):87-93. doi:10.21608/EAJBSA.2012.14797.
Abd-Rabou S, Abbassi M. Survey and taxonomy of the main pests and their natural enemies attacking citrus and olive trees in Egypt and Morocco in coastal areas with special keys to the pests and their natural enemies. J Plant Prot Pathol. 2009;34(10):10179-10189. doi:10.21608/jppp.2009.217490.
Abou-Ghadir NMF. Population fluctuation of the black olive scale, Saissetia oleae (Olivier) infesting the ornamental plant, Nerium oleander under Assiut Governorate conditions. Assiut J Agric Sci. 2025;56(2):148-160. doi:10.21608/ajas.2025.345914.1442.
Babcock JM, Gerwick CB, Huang JX, Loso MR, Nakamura G, Nolting SP, et al. Biological characterization of sulfoxaflor, a novel insecticide. Pest Manag Sci. 2011;67:328-334. doi:10.1002/ps.2069.
Copping LG, Menn JJ. Biopesticides: A review of their action, applications and efficacy. Pest Manag Sci. 2000;56:651-676. doi:10.1002/1526-4998(200008)56:8<651::AID-PS201>3.0.CO;2-U.
Darwish AAE. Population dynamics and chemical control of two diaspid scales infesting mango trees. J Adv Agric Res. 2021;26(3):152-164. doi:10.21608/jalexu.2021.92468.1002.
Darwish AAE, Khozimy AMH, Attia MMR, Abuzeid MAF. Efficiency of different application techniques of three neonicotinoid insecticides against Florida wax scale, Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock and its parasitoid, Coccophagus scutellaris (Dalman). J Appl Plant Prot. 2020;9(1):9-16. doi:10.21608/japp.2020.130643.
Food and Agriculture Organization. FAOSTAT. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization, 2022. Available from: https://www.fao.org/faostat/
González VL, et al. Open access genomic resources for terrestrial arthropods. Curr Opin Insect Sci. 2018;25:91-98. doi:10.1016/j.cois.2017.12.003.
Henderson CF, Tilton W. Tests with acaricides against the wheat mite. J Econ Entomol. 1955;48(2):157-161. doi:10.1093/jee/48.2.157.
Ibraheem AAM, Al-Arnaouty SA, Moussa SF, Helmy SM. Efficiency of certain biopesticides against the olive black scale insect, Saissetia oleae (Olivier) on olive trees at Giza Governorate, Egypt. Egypt Acad J Biol Sci A Entomol. 2012;5(2):87-93. doi:10.21608/EAJBSA.2012.14797.
Ilias F, Hammadi F. Population dynamics of Saissetia oleae (Olivier) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) on olives. Open Access Libr J. 2017;4:e3805. doi:10.4236/oalib.1103805.
Ishaaya I. Insect detoxifying enzymes: Their importance in pesticide synergism and resistance. Arch Insect Biochem Physiol. 1992;22(1-2):263-276. doi:10.1002/arch.940220119.
Mesbah HAA, Moursi KS, El-Kady MB, Abdelmageed AA, Gaith A. Population dynamics of olive black scale, Saissetia oleae (Olivier) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) infesting olive trees in irrigated farms in Matrouh Governorate, Egypt. J Adv Agric Res. 2020;25(1):38-47. doi:10.21608/jalexu.2020.163765.
Ouguas Y, Chemseddine M. Effect of pruning and chemical control on Saissetia oleae (Olivier) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) in olives. Fruits. 2011;66(3):225-234. doi:10.1051/fruits/2011029.
Quesada CR, Sadof CS. Efficacy of horticultural oil and insecticidal soap against selected armored and soft scales. HortTechnology. 2017;27(5):618-624. doi:10.21273/HORTTECH03752-17.
Schmutterer H. Properties and potential of natural pesticides from the neem tree, Azadirachta indica. Annu Rev Entomol. 1990;35:271-297. doi:10.1146/annurev.en.35.010190.001415.
Soulsby RL, Thomas JA. Insect population curves: Modelling and application to butterfly transect data. Methods Ecol Evol. 2012;3(5):832-841. doi:10.1111/j.2041-210X.2012.00227.x.
Souza GC, Redaelli LR, Wolff VRD. Population dynamics of Saissetia oleae (Hemiptera: Coccidae) on olive trees. Rev Bras Frutic. 2015;37(4):852-858.
Tena A, Soto A, Vercher R, Garcia-Mari F. Density and structure of Saissetia oleae (Hemiptera: Coccidae) populations on citrus and olives: Relative importance of the two annual generations. Environ Entomol. 2007;36:700-706.
