Chrysomphalus aonidum (Linnaeus)

Chrysomphalus aonidum is native to oriental region and hardly creates any problem. The crawlers settle on leaves, tender twigs and even on fruits. After formation of encrustations around their bodies the scale insects keep on desaping the attacked plants. In certain varieties infestation is very severe particularly if proper actions are not taken. The attacked trees show yellow spots and dieback symptoms due to leaf shedding.

The scale insect is multiplied on pumpkins (Cucurbita maxima Dend) in a rearing facility where temperature (27°C) and humidity (65% RH) are controlled. The initial culture is obtained from the field and reared separately. The predators, hyperparasitoids and diseases if any are eliminated. Once the pure culture is established, the host multiplication is started. The crawlers of the scale insect are collected from the mother culture and dusted over the fresh pumpkins placed on a plastic rim in a cage (45 cm³). The infested pumpkin is ready for exposure to the San Jose scale parasitoids from 12th day of infestation. At least 10% of the crawler infested pumpkins from each lot are used for continuation of the host insect culture. The scale insect could also be multiplied on potted citranges and trifoliates.