Seasonal Activities of Lepidosaphes beckii and Its Associated Natural Enemies in Response to Habitat Environment

Abstract

(as parasitism%) on L. beckii adults in navel orange, mandarin and lemon orchards; while C. bipustulatus exhibited one to three peaks (as predatism%) on the pest stage. A. lepidosaphes and C. bipustulatus act in density-dependent reactions; where statistical analysis showed that there were good synchronizations between L. beckii and populations of these natural enemies. L. beckii population was significantly higher in navel orange orchards followed by mandarin and lemon orchards, respectively. On the contrary, the activities of studied natural enemies were mostly higher in significant values in lemon orchards followed by mandarin and navel orange orchards, respectively. So, it can be concluded that the relatively low population levels of L. beckii in lemon orchard may be attributed to the relatively high activities of the recorded natural enemies, and vice versa. The daily temperature degrees had mostly high significant positive effects on the activities of L. beckii and both A. lepidosaphes and C. bipustulatus ; while the daily means of relative humidity had mostly insignificant effects on them.