DAMAGE TO SALTBUSH BY THE COCCID PULVINARIA MASKELLI OLLIFF, AND THE ROLE PLAYED BY AN ATTENDANT ANT

Abstract

Following a build‐up in population of the saltbush scale Pulvinaria maskelli, the resulting damace caused to the saltbush Atriplex vesicaria was estimated to be a mean of 17% branches killed per bush. The attendant ant Iridomyrmex sp. affords a measure of protection to the scale against predators and climatic extremes, and so contributes to its damage potential. Copyright © 1982, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved