The parasitic complex of the soft scale, Pulvinaria tenuivalvata was studied. Infested sugarcane leaves (Saccharum officinarum L.) were collected weekly from untreated fields in different parts of Giza govenorate from September 1999 to February 2000. Five hymenopterous primary parasitoids were found (Coccophagus semicircularis (Förster) (Coccophaginae); Metaphycus flavus (Howard), Microterys nietneri (Motschulsky), Microterys sp. and Diversinervus elegans Silvestri (Encyrtinae), and two secondary parasitoids (Pachyneuron muscarum (Linnaeus) (Pteromalidae) and Cheiloneurus sp. (Encyrtinae) that emerged in a ratio about of 99:1. The most abundant parasitoids in adult females and nymphs (50.6% C. semicirculalris and 46.5% M. flavus) emerged between late September and early March. Emergence peaks occurred between early November and December and late November and January, respectively. The pteromalid and the encyrtid hyperparasitoids emerged between late October and mid- February, and continued emerging until the third and fourth weeks of March. The delay in the emergence of Cheiloneurus sp. may be due to the superparasitism by P. muscarum. Coccophagus semicirculais and M. flavus seem to be the most promising parasitoids for use as biological control agents against the red-striped soft scale on sugarcane in Egypt.
Species 1: Hemiptera Coccidae Pulvinaria tenuivalvata (Red- striped soft scale)
Keywords: Parasitic complex of soft scale
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