A NEW STRATEGY FOR CONTROLLING THREE DEVASTATING PESTS ATTACKING DATE PALM PLANTATIONS IN EL BAHARIYA AND SIWA OASES, EGYPT THROUGH USING A SPECIAL GROUP OF NATURAL ENEMIES

Egypt is considered the world leader in date production; yet, B a t r a c h e d r a a m y d r a ula Meyrick, A r e nip s e s s a b ella Hampson and Virachola livia Klug are threatening this position. This study aimed to set a new strategy by using six parasitoids and predators, i.e. Trichogramma sp., Bracon sp., Goniozus sp., Chrysoperla sp., Coccinella sp . and Orius sp. to trap the different pests’ stages in El-Bahariya and Siwa Oases’ palm plantations. By the end of the season of each pest, A. sabella and V. livia infestation% in El-Bahariya control farm recorded 92.1 and 51%, respectively, while B. amydraula recorded 40.2%. Infestation declined when natural enemies were released, i.e. 0, 1.1 and 1.1%, for the three pests, respectively. In Siwa, infestation in control recorded 52, 40.2 and 43%, while dropped in treatments to 0, 2 and 2 %, for the three pests, respectively. Using this combination of natural enemies was effective and it is recommended to integrate this strategy in palm plantations IPM programs in Egypt, mainly, in protectorates, where using pesticides is prohibited

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