A comparative study on the effects of aerial versus ground spraying of poisoned baits against the mediterranean fruit fly on the natural enemies of scale insects in citrus groves

Control measures applied against the Mediterranean fruit fly in citrus groves in Israel consist of poisoned - bait sprays containing a protein hydrolysate and malathion. The effects of two methods of application of these materials, namely ground versus air, on the natural enemies of citrus scale insects were studied during 1961-1962. The populations of the California red scale Aonidiella aurantii (Mask.) (in 12 citrus groves) and of the Florida wax scale Ceroplastes floridensisComst. (in 13 groves) were sampled and the rate of parasitation by Hymenoptera was determined. The abundance of the predator Chilocorus bipustulatus (L.) was recorded in all 25 groves. No significant differences were found between the effects of the two methods of application on the beneficial insects under study.