Assessment of the Intensity of White Mango Scale (Aulacaspis tubercularis (Hemiptera

Diaspididae)) on Mango Trees in Assosa District, Benishangul Gumuz National Regional State, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

In Western part of Ethiopia where high infestation of insect pest on mango plant is observed, no study was conducted to investigate the pest fauna. The present study is to assess Species Composition, Pest Status and Distribution of Insect Pests, and their association with mango Production was carried in three (AK) of Assosa district peak mango producers from September to January 2016.Information from KII, FGD and HH was collected using questionnaire and cross check by observation from a field report .The quantitative result of the study were analyzed using statistical software SPSS. Mango is the top ranked fruit produced from seed (unimproved cultivar) on farm yard. on season and harvest estimated as 300 fruit per tree or 21-30 tons per ha. Three each mango plant lower branches leaves were purposively sampled to determine the species composition that are living on mango plants. The study shows, the prevailing of birds, monkey, and arthropods,/insect. Among these, Red ants and spiders are arthropods, termites, scale insects and beetles are insects. Both harbor the differ parts of plants. Out of the observed species, Red ants were widely distributed followed by White scale insect, termites and spider. Beetles are the lowest distributed insects. With regard to pest status and their association Termites cover with soil on stem, root and protect sun lights, feed on roots or move upward making the tunnels with construction of mud galleries on trees Spiders produce silk and this silk cover the whole surface of the plants, Red ants are abundantly observed both on the ground and on the tree produce un pleasant fecal material. Red ants (Oecophyllasa mangdline) - webbed of leaves with ants forming nests of all season year. White mango scale insect is the emerging pest observed from its inception harbor leaves, and compute for photosynthesis product and cause leaf to dry. White mango scale insect is the only insect negatively associate with mango production. To determine the white mango scale insect Aulacaspis tubercularis infestation status and distribution one sample mango tree lower branch twig leaves from each (AK) yard were considered, were estimated to less than 50% ,majority 60% of remain un infested shows it is the emerging pest. As a result only smoking the pest is started as means of protection, assuming the smoke may suffocate the pest. The result of this study may serve as a base line for designing the study of economic impact of the pest.