Mango scale

Systematic position. The mango scale (Leucaspis indica) belongs to the family Diaspididae within the order Hemiptera. It is a highly specialized sap-sucking pest that protects itself with a hardened waxy covering, making it relatively resistant to many contact-based environmental factors.

Host plants. The primary host of this insect is the mango tree (Mangifera indica). It tends to aggregate on the bark, twigs, and leaf undersides. While it primarily targets mango, in diverse agroforestry systems, it may occasionally infest other evergreen plants if they are closely related or located in close proximity to heavily infested trees.

Biology and life cycle. The life cycle consists of the egg stage, the mobile crawler stage, and the sedentary adult stage. The crawlers are the only mobile phase, responsible for both dispersal and establishing new feeding sites. Once a site is chosen, the insect forms its characteristic scale, which provides a physical barrier against natural enemies and some pesticide applications.

Nature of damage and economic impact. The feeding activity of Leucaspis indica extracts vital nutrients from the host plant, leading to localized cell death and systemic weakness. Heavy infestations cause chlorosis, premature leaf drop, and stunted shoot development. In commercial orchards, this leads to reduced vigor, lower photosynthetic efficiency, and significant quality loss in harvested fruits.

Control measures. Successful management relies on early detection and targeted treatments:

• Regular field scouting to identify the presence of scale populations.
• Application of systemic insecticides during the crawler emergence phase.
• Use of horticultural oils to physically coat and suffocate the insects.
• Pruning and destroying severely infested branches to lower the overall pest pressure.