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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #344904
Research Project: Improved Biologically-Based Tactics to Manage Invasive Insect Pests and Weeds

Location: Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research

Title: Preliminary assessment of the parasitic relation of Comperiella calauanica Barrion, Almarinez, and Amalin on Aspidiotus rigidus Reyne in Hidden Valley Springs Resort, Calauan, Laguna, Philippines

Author
item GO, MARCO - De La Salle University
item ALMARINEZ, BILLY - De La Salle University
item BARRION, ALBERTO - De La Salle University
item CARANDANG VI, JOSE - De La Salle University
item AMALIN, DAVINA - De La Salle University
item Legaspi, Jesusa

Submitted to: Manila Journal of Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/19/2020
Publication Date: 12/18/2020
Citation: Go, M.V., Almarinez, B.J., Barrion, A.T., Carandang Vi, J.S., Amalin, D.M., Legaspi, J.C. 2020. Assessment of the parasitic relation of Comperiella calauanica Barrion, Almarinez, and Amalin on Aspidiotus rigidus Reyne in Hidden Valley Springs Resort, Calauan, Laguna, Philippines. Manila Journal of Science. 13:89-97.

Interpretive Summary: The coconut scale insect is a devastating insect pests of coconut in the Philippines, reaching epidemic status in certain regions in 2013. Several control methods have been attempted, but none resulted in satisfactory control. A wasp was discovered parasitizing the scale and determined to be a new species. In this study, scientists with USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, Florida, in collaboration with researchers from De La Salle University, assessed the possibility of using the wasp as a biological control agent against the coconut scale. Examination of the scales on infested experimental trees revealed that over 85% were parasitized by the wasp. Additionally, the sex ratio of the wasps was determined to be 5 females for every male. These results suggest that the wasp has potential as a biological control agent for mass rearing and augmentative release against the coconut scale.

Technical Abstract: The coconut scale insect (CSI), Aspidiotus rigidus Reyne (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), is one of the most devastating insect pests of coconut in the Philippines. It reached epidemic pest status in 2013 in the Southern Tagalog mainland (Calabarzon Region). Several control measures had been tried but did not reach the management level desired. However, in April 2014, an encyrtid parasitoid was discovered in the Hidden Valley Resort in Calauan, Laguna and observed to have direct association with A. rigidus. It was later described as a new species and named as Comperiella calauanica by Barrion, Almarinez, and Amalin (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). To assess the potential of this parasitic wasp against A. rigidus, a survey of the presence and establishment of this wasp was conducted at the Hidden Valley Springs Resort. Forty randomly-selected frond-forming coconut seedlings were chosen and one leaflet per seedling was excised for the evaluation. Each leaflet was divided into three equal-size segments for counting the A. rigidus and C. calauanica, and designated as unparasitized and parasitized, respectively. The percentage of parasitism of C. calauanica on A. rigidus was computed as 85.55% ± 1.42 (Average ± SE) and 85.52% ± 1.28 for the whole leaflet and leaf segment, respectively. Counts of A. rigidus and C. calauanica from sub-samples such as leaf segments are sufficient in determining the percentage of parasitism since there was no difference between the two different sampling methods. Adult sex ratio was about 1 male to 5 females. Results suggest the potential of C. calauanica as a primary biological control agent of A. rigidus.