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Biological control of the coconut scale, Aspidiotus destructor Sign., in Principe, Portuguese West Africa.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

F. J. Simmonds
Affiliation:
Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control, Ottawa, Canada.

Extract

The coconut scale, Aspidiotus destructor Sign., was recorded for the first time from the island of Principe in November 1954, but it is practically certain that it was actually introduced accidentally in 1952.

Prior to 1954, normal fluctuations had occurred in the total annual production of copra of the island, probably correlated mainly with rainfall conditions. However, in 1954 there was a steady and very serious decline in production due to damage caused by Aspidiotus. Several species of endemic natural enemies were found attacking the scale, but the control exerted by them was quite inadequate to prevent astronomical increase of Aspidiotus.

Type
Research Paper
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1960

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References

Castel-Branco, A. J. F. (1956). A cochonilha dos coqueiros na Ilha do Príncipe (Aspidiotus destructor Sign.).—Garcia de Orta 4 pp. 225238.Google Scholar
Castel-Branco, A. J. F. (1959). Lutte biologique contre Aspidiotus destructor Sign. à l'île Principe (Afrique-Occidentale Portuguaise).—Rev. Path. vég. 37 pp. 235239.Google Scholar