Praelongorthezia praelonga (Douglas, 1891)

Fornazier, M. J., Martins, D. S., Fanton, C. J. & Benassi, V. L. R. M., 2019, INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT IN CONILON COFFEE, Conilon coffee - The Coffea canephora produced in Brazil, Vitória, ES, Brasil: Incaper - Capixaba Institute for Research, Technical Assistance and Rural Extension, pp. 493-533 : 2027-2028

Praelongorthezia praelonga :

Also known as citrus orthezia. The adult female measures about 2.5 mm and has the body covered by white wax plates, presenting on the back two small greenish areas without wax. The head is covered by two protruding plates. In the posterior part of the body are found several elongated wax rods that unite to form the egg sac where the females accommodate newly hatched eggs and nymphs ( Figure 9A ). Both adult females and nymphs move in the plant. In 1988, a large outbreak was observed, with the pest spread in most of the northern region of Espírito Santo's municipalities ( MARTINS et al., 1989; MARTINS; PAULINI; GALVÃO, 1989). Dry and cold periods, in consecutive years of low precipitation, favor their population development. At high infestations, the leaves are covered with sooty mold ( Figure 9B ) and the pest can cause the plant to die ( MARTINS et al., 1989; MARTINS; PAULINI; GALVÃO, 1989) ( Figure 9C ).

Losses

Scale insects cause direct damage by the continuous sucking of sap, contributing to the plant depletion. Indirect damages are also caused because they are sap-feeding insects and the excess sugary secretion that covers the leaves facilitates the occurrence of sooty mold. This fungus covers the foliage in black layer, damaging the photosynthesis and respiration of the plant, mainly in the nurseries. In addition, they provide food to the ants that give them protection, and can sometimes damage the coffee tree root with the anthill construction. The successive stings in the plants can also favor the penetration of microorganisms. Green scales cause growth retardation of seedlings in the nursery and in the newly planted ones. In the case of the chain cochineal, in addition to the losses already mentioned, it can cause the coffee trees drying. The scale root forms nodosities and sucks sap from the coffee tree roots causing the plants depletion, yellowing and almost total leaf fall, and it may be necessary to replant the affected area. The recognition is done by digging up part of the soil around the plant's neck or collar, from which colonies of this cochineal are white, when the infestation is recent or also due to the formation of crypts in colonies that have been installed for a long time. It is noted that the main roots are covered by a leathery wrap, initially yellowish and then dark brown, caused by a fungus that develops at the expense of the sugary substance secreted by the cochineal. The roots present a series of nodes formed by the succession of crypts or popcorn where the insect is housed.

The citrus mealybug has increased its responsibility for the direct damages to the conilon coffee productivity ( FORNAZIER et al., 2004). Its attack occurs directly to the floral buds and to the underdevelopment fruits, leading to their massive fall. It causes the wilting of more developed fruits ( FORNAZIER et al., 2000g, 2001a).

Methods of control

Cultural

The cultural control is done by observing the infestation of the pest in the acquired seedlings by taking care of lots that may present infestation.

Biological

There are several natural enemies that can efficiently control coccidians. Among them, we highlight ladybugs larvae of the genus Scymnus and Hyperaspis ( Coleoptera : Coccinellidae ) and chrysopidae larvae (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) ( FORNAZIER et al., 2006) and the micro- Hymenoptera parasitoids Leptomastidea abnormis Girault and Leptomastix dactylopii Howard ( Hymenoptera : Encyrtidae ) (PRADO; SANTA-CECÍLIA; FLOREZI FILHO, 2008).

Chemical

For the chemical control of the scale root the application of neonicotinoid insecticide when the first infestations are detected, in a localized way in the "reboleiras̎ and directly at the plant insertion point with the soil, via liquid, is efficient (FORNAZIER; LIMA; ROCHA, 2000; SOUZA; RIBEIRO, 2003).

For the citrus mealybug, research developed by Incaper (FORNAZIER; MARTINS, 2002, 2003a, 2003b, 2003c, 2003d; FORNAZIER et al., 2005a, 2005b, 2005d; FORNAZIER; FREITAS; De MUNER, 2005; FORNAZIER, 2006) showed that it is necessary to use a high volume of syrup (higher than 1,000 L/ha), use of suitable chemical products and the infestation monitoring to verify the presence of the pest moving or installed in the rosettes. For emergency control, Reis et al. (2010) recommend the use of different chemical products, such as methidathion and chlorpyrifos ethyl, registered for other coffee tree pests, by means of foliar spraying. In the observation of the populations increase, carry out the chemical control, preferably per field. In plantations where planting is carried out with the clones of the in-line varieties, it is recommended to monitor the incidence of cochineal in the clones, avoiding the indiscriminate application throughout the area. Preventive chemical intervention with products applied via foliage is not advisable because of the irregular cochineal manifestation in the crops. Products applied via soil have presented variation in the agronomic efficiency to control the pest (FORNAZIER; MARTINS, 2002, 2003a, 2003b, 2003c, 2003d). Chemicals applied via trunk were ineffective to control this cochineal (FORNAZIER; MARTINS, 2003a).

Figures

Figure 9. Orthezia colony (Praelongorthezia praelonga) on coffee leaves (A); leaf covered with dark- colored fungus, commonly referred to as sooty mold (B); and coffee plant with high defoliation caused by the pest (C).