EFFICIENCY OF SCUTELLISTA-CYANEA MOTSCH (HYM, PTEROMALIDAE) AND TETRASTICHUS-CEROPLASTAE (GIR) (HYM, EULOPHIDAE) IN POPULATION SUPPRESSION OF CEROPLASTES-RUSCI L (HOM, COCCIDAE)

Studies on the relationship between the population fluctuations of the wax scale, C. rusci L., and its parasites on quince trees were carrie d out in the Mansoura district for a whole year starting April, 1993 u ntil March, 1994. Two annual generations of C. rusci were recorded, th e summer one from April to September and the winter one from September to the next April. The two hymenopterous parasites, C. cyanea Motsch. (Pteromalidae) and Tetrastichus ceroplastae (Gir.) (Eulophidae) emerg ed from C. rusci. The highest monthly percentages of parasitism with S . cyanea (15.6%) and T. ceroplastae (30%) were recorded in September a nd November, respectively. The rate of parasitism induced by the two p arasites together reached its peak (33.4%) in September. The results a ssured the important role of these parasites as biotic mortality facto rs against the populations of C. rusci in Egypt.