Trials to Control Matsucoccus josephi (Homoptera: Margarodidae) with Fenoxycarb

The effects of fenoxycarb, an insect growth regulator, on Matsucoccus josephi Bodenheimer & Harpaz, were studied on 3-yr-old artificially infested seedlings of Pinus Halepensis Mill. and P. Vrutia Ten. in greenhouses, and on naturally infested 10-yr-old P. halepensis stands. The treatments arrested the development of first and second instars before moulting, reduced the rate of crawler settlement, and caused 98% mortality when sprayed on settled 2-wk-old larvae. Marked mortality (87%) of female larvae was recorded when 0.5% fenoxycarb was applied at the time male third instars began to leave the plant for pupation. In greenhouse trials, treated seedlings survived, whereas untreated seedlings were killed or severely damaged by the scale. Aerial and ground spray applications in field trials reduced the scale population during the first year after treatment compared with a sharp population increase in the control trees. Results indicate that fenoxycarb may serve as an efficient population management agent of M. josephi by preventing the development of acute injury to P. halepensis stands and could be used to control outbreaks by other Matsucoccus spp.