Scale Insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) on Jackfruit (Moraceae) in Nayarit, Mexico

Abstract

Abstract Jackfruit, Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. (Rosales: Moraceae), was only recently introduced into Mexico, and the state of Nayarit has become its main source of production. Information on its management, development, and production in Mexico is scarce. In this study, we identified four species of scale insects on jackfruit belonging to the families Coccidae (one species), Diaspididae (two species), and Pseudococcidae (one species) from Coccomorpha. We found one species of a parasitic wasp (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) and two ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) associated with the mango shield scale, Milviscutulus mangiferae (Green) (Coccidae). Three species of aphelinid parasitoids and one coccinellid species (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) were found attacking the lesser snow scale, Pinnaspis strachani (Cooley) (Diaspididae). The lesser snow scale and the mango shield scale were the most frequent scales insect species encountered in jackfruit orchards in Nayarit. Therefore, attention should be paid to the populations of these two scale insects, as well as to the type of interaction between ants and the mango shield scale, to design more efficient management of these pests.