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Insaf Zaabta

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0495-0514

    Mohammed Biche, Khaoula Aroua, Nesrine Medani, Rachida Belguendouz, Lalia Boukhobza, Insaf Zaabta, Kaci Zakia, Lydia Dahmani, Cansu Ercan, Denis Achiri Tange, Mehmet Bora Kaydan & Abderahmane Chebli
    The armored scales (Homoptera Diaspididae) of Algeria
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.495.514

    ABSTRACT
    Diaspididae (Hemiptera Coccomorpha) is one of the largest and most diverse family of scale insects and it contains many agricultural parasites worldwide. The study collected data from those previously reported in the literature over the period of 123 years. The inventory includes armored scales collected from field samples in several regions of Algeria as well as from a bibliographic survey. A critical review of the literature on armored scales in Algeria revealed the presence of 114 species, with mainly a palearctic distribution belonging to 48 genera distributed in four tribes. The Diaspidini tribe is the most abundant (50 species, 24 genera), followed by the Aspidiotini (47 species, 18 genera) and the Parlatorini (13 species, 4 genera) and finally the Odonaspidini (2 genera, 2 species). According to our survey, conducted between 1987 and 2020, 79 species were recorded, belonging to 37 genera distributed in four tribes. Compared to the Maghreb countries, Algeria has a significant coccidological richness in relation to the total number of species.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 11 (4): 0845-0852

    Lalia Boukhobza, Insaf Zaabta, Rachida Belguendouz, Fateh Mimeche & Mohamed Biche
    Role of hymenopterous parasits Aphelinidae in the regulation of levels of Lepidosaphes beckii (Newton, 1869) (Homoptera Diaspididae) populations on orange trees in Rouiba area (Algeria)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2020.11.4.845.852

    ABSTRACT
    This present study put in evidence the dynamics of the populations of Lepidosaphes beckii (Newton, 1869) (Homoptera Diaspididae), and the study of the impact of its hymenopterous parasites Aphytis lepidosaphes Compere, 1955, Aphytis chrysomphali Mercet, 1912, Aphytis proclia Walker, 1839 and Aspidiotiphagus citrinus (Craw, 1831) on orange tree in the area of Rouiba. This diaspine develops three generations: one in autumn-winter, one in spring and one in summer. This scale insect presents a very marked affinity in the middle of the tree and the inferior faces of the leaves where the suitable conditions for its development seems to be offered. The natural mortality of L. beckii is of two types: climatic for young stages and physiological for the adult females. The parasitic incidence is almost the same for the young stages and the adult with respectively 22.24% and 23.89%. The global rate of parasitism is 23.24% insufficient to control its host.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 11 (1): 035-040

    Insaf Zaabta, Lalia Boukhobza, Fateh Mimeche & Mohamed Biche
    Role of Aphytis lepidosaphes Compere, 1955 (Hymenoptera Aphelinidae) in limiting Lepidosaphes beckii (Newman, 1869) (Homoptera Diaspididae) populations in an orange orchard in Rouiba (Algeria)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2020.11.1.35.40

    ABSTRACT
    This work highlights the study of Lepidosaphes beckii (Newman, 1869) (Homoptera Diaspididae) population dynamics as well as the impact of its external parasite Aphytis lepidosaphes Compere, 1955 (Hymenoptera Aphelinidae) in an orange orchard in Rouiba (Algeria). A year period study shows that L. beckii has three generations per year: the first is the autumnal generation; the second is through the spring and the third throughout summer. Moreover, this cochineal presents a very strong affinity for the central part of the trees and the lower side of the tree leaves which offers optimal conditions for its development. Aphytis lepidosaphes also develops three generations per year: in autumn, spring and summer, matching perfectly the three generations of its host. The parasite can be found where its host is abundant (plentiful). The global parasitism rate records is 22.54% for L. beckii, this rate remains weak to control the cochineal populations.