Taux d’infestation par la cochenille blanche (Parlatoria blanchardi Targ.1892) sur quelques variétés des dattes dans la région d’El-Ménéa

Abstract

The white cochineal of date palm Parlatoria blanchardi Targ. is probably the most formidable enemy of all Algerian palm groves. The results for three months showed that: Under the conditions of the El-Menea region, the white cochineal changes depending on the variety, orientation and floor of date palm fronds. Thus, the variety Deglet Nour is infested with respect to the variety Timjjouhert with 21.5 cochineal/ cm ² mealy bug density. It takes considerable that the north is the most favorable for the white cochineal. Indeed, differences were also observed between the four orientations, with a very high level of infestation on the north, south and west and lowest in the east side. The estimated degrees of infestation for three months, is estimated from 0.5 to 1 for both varieties Deglet Nour and Timjjouhert. This corresponds to the beginning of infestation during these three months. On the floor, infestations are higher at the lower floor with a density of 23.4 cochineal / cm ². It is important to inform that the temperature is not the only influencing the distribution of white cochineal. Through our results, we recommend under the conditions of the region El- Menea intervene to overcome this problem with the white cochineal on integrated pest management and the use of beneficial insects, because until now we do not have selective products against the white cochineal.