Biology of the Euonymus scale Unaspis euonymi (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) in Urban Areas of Ankara, Turkey

Unaspis euonymi is an important pest of Euonymus plants in parks and gardens of Ankara. In this study, the biology of U. euonymi was investigated in 2002 and 2003. The euonymus scale overwintered as mated adult females and had two generations per year. Crawlers of the first generation were present from mid-May to mid-June and those of the second generation during July. The maximum number of eggs counted in a female body was 70,8; the greatest number laid in a day was 10,8. Adult females were more abundant on the branches than the leaves. In contrast, adult males were more abundant on leaves than on branches. The number of predator species (Coccinellidae: Adalia bipunctata (L.), Chilocorus bipustulatus (L.), Exochomus quadripustulatus (L.): Nitidulidae: Cybocephalus sp.; Neuroptera: Chrysoperla sp.) was low and inefficient.