PCPMS

Phylum-	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class -	Insecta (Insects)
Order -	Diaspididae
Family-	Hemiptera
Species-	Aspidiotus destructor Sign . Aonidella orientalis Mask. Lepidosaphes megregore Banks

Main Host: Coconut

Alternate Host: banana, guava, citrus, cocoa, rubber, ginger

Occurrence: Summer

Life Cycle: The female is bright yellow, circular, body covered with transparent convex scale. The males are smaller oval, reddish in ventral side. The adult male is winged. The total development period lasts for 30 days.

Damage:

It forms encrustations over the entire lower lamina resulting in severe yellowing and drying of leaves. In addition to leaves they also infest other parts of coconut palm like flower, spike and nuts. Scales infest the leaves, button and rachilla. The infested leaves show chlorotic symptom and eventually dry up. Button shedding is noticed in palms with severe infestation.

Management :

• Spray fish oil rosin soap (FORS) 2.5% or spray Fenthion / malathion. A second round is to be given after 20 days interval.

• Release of predatory coccinellids, Chilocorus nigritus is found to be effective.