Survey of Scale Insect Species and Mealybugs on Date Palm Trees in Kufra City

الملخص

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a major fruit crop in most Arab countries. It has historically been associated with sustaining human life and traditions of the people in the Old World as a significant agricultural crop. Date palms are susceptible to attack by many pests and diseases, with their nature and severity varying based on cultivar, location, weather, and cultural practices. Four different sites were used for random sampling of scale insects and mealybugs on date palm trees in Kufra city. Hand sampling was conducted from January 2023 until December 2024 at these sites: Western Jouf, Northern Jouf, Southern Jouf, and Eastern Jouf. The most commonly surveyed insects belonged to the order Homoptera and the families Diaspididae and Margarodidae. Two species were recorded: Parlatoria blanchardi and Pseudospidoproctus hyphaniacus, which attack various parts of the date palm (leaves, stem, bark, and crown) in Kufra and cause significant damage. Both immature and adult females are involved in the attacks, while males have wings; immature stages and adult females are wingless. P. hyphaniacus had peak activity levels, particularly in the Northern and Western Jouf regions, while population density in the Eastern and Southern Jouf regions was low. The infestation level of P. blanchardi in the Northern and Western Jouf districts was medium, whereas it was lower in the Eastern and Southern Jouf districts. The most affected varieties by these pests are the Dakla and Saidi, both planted in Kufra city, with infestations recorded in all fields during 2023 and 2024.