Shree, M.P., & Manjunatha, S. 2000 Incidence of black scale insects (Saissetia nigra, N.) infesting mulberry in Kanakapura Taluk (Bangalore Rural District, Karnataka State).. Entomon 25(2): 91-96.

Notes: Kanakapura Taluk in the Bangalore rural district is one of the leading places in Karnataka State practicing sericulture. The total area under mulberry cultivation is about 6817.76 hectares; of this, 6812.46 hectares are irrigated. Black scale insects suck the cell sap and kill the plants. The surface of the attacked stems is covered all over with scales. The lenticels are completely hidden, and so respiratory and lenticular transpiration rate of the plant cells are considerably lowered. In the present study, an extensive survey was undertaken for two years (July 1995 to June 1997) at monthly intervals on the infestation of black scale insects on mulberry plants (Kanva2 or M5 variety) in twenty villages of Kanakapura taluk. The data revealed that the infestation by black scale insects was maximum in the month of December and January while it was minimum in the months of May and July. Infestation was not seen in the months of October and February. There was a significant negative relationship between the infestation and climatic factors viz., temperature (maximum) and relative humidity whereas rainfall was not significant.