Mangoud, A.A.H. 2008a Evaluation of sequence programs to control Icerya seychellarum infesting apple in Egypt.. Proceedings of the XI International Symposium on Scale Insect Studies, Oeiras, Portugal, 24-27 September 2007. ISA Press Lisbon, Portugal 322 pp.

Notes: Surveys of populations of Icerya seychellarum (Westwood) (Coccoidea: Margarodidae) and the vedalia beetle, Rodalia cardinalis (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) were carried out on trees in Giza Governorate during 2004. Data showed that 95 % of adult females (ovipositing and non-ovipositing) and 94.8% of the nymphs of I. seychellarum were concentrated on the branches, while 5% of the adult females and 5.2% of the nymphs were concentrated on leaves. The same trend was observed with the distribution of R. cardinalis. It was found that both I. seychellarum and R. cardinalis tended to infest just a few branches (from 5-7 branches) on the apple trees and also tended to concentrate in the areas near the water pipes in newly reclaimed lands. The distribution studies are important, particularly when orientated spraying is practised. R. cardinalis was released in one feddan apple in Giza Governorate. The predator is the best method of controlling I. seychellarum. R. cardinalis is very fast growing and can complete four generations in the time I. seychellarum takes to complete one generation. When R. cardinalis is released into an orchard, it can control the I. seychellarum within two months. Two spraying methods were carried out in Giza Governorate to control the mealybug and to use reduced spray volumes. These methods were either the whole tree being sprayed or the targeted spraying experiments. After pruning, In the whole tree spraying method, about 7litres of spray solution was sufficient to cover the whole apple tree, while in the targeted spraying method (spraying of infested branches only), about 2 litre was sufficient to cover the infested branches and leaves. Prior to pruning, about 15 litres of spraying volume were sufficient to cover the whole apple tree in the whole tree spraying method, while in the targeted spraying method (spraying just the infested branches) about 5 litres were sufficient. In other words, the treatment of infested branches is more economic (about 3 to 3.5 times), and safer to the environment than the spraying of the whole tree. Pruning was carried out in December and the data show that pruning and the collection of dropped leaves which are then burnt is also it very useful as an additional control measure. The infestation can be reduced by more than 50% by this method. When calculating the costs of the two spraying methods, it was found that the whole tree spraying trials were more expensive (197 and 317 LE/feddan after and before pruning spraying trails respectively) than the targeted spraying trials (76 and 121 LE/feddan after and before pruning spraying trails respectively). The targeted spraying trials are therefore less expensive, cause less damage to the environment and give a good reduction of the scale insect population.