Susceptibility of kiwifruit shelter species to two armoured scale insects

Abstract

The relative susceptibility to greedy and latania scale of 21 tree species used as kiwifruit shelter was determined using laboratory and shade house bioassays. The bioassays confirmed the general susceptibility of most of the willow and poplar selections, but showed that some selections had good levels of resistance, measured by scale insect survival and growth. For some shelter species, resistance to the two armoured scale species differed. The most resistant of the commonly used shelter species were Bambusa oldhami, Pinus radiata and Cryptomeria japonica. Other less commonly used species such as Pittosporum spp. also showed good resistance. Using these resistant species as shelter in a kiwifruit orchard will minimise the risk of the shelter becoming a reservoir for either species of armoured scale. © 2012 New Zealand Plant Protection Society (Inc.).