Prevalence of Scale Insects and Their Impact on the Productivity of Some Date Palm Cultivars in the Three Oases of Al-Jufra (Hun, Wadan, and Sawknah)

Abstract

This study investigated the prevalence of scale insects and their impact on the productivity and infestation levels of some date palm cultivars (Deglet Noor, Khadhrai, and Saidi) in Al-Jufra region (Wadan, Hun, and Sawknah), Libya, during February and March 2019. Random samples from various farms were analyzed using a questionnaire-based field survey, and statistical analysis was performed using the Least Significant Difference (LSD) method at a significance level of 0.05. The results revealed that all evaluated date palm cultivars were susceptible to scale insect infestation, with statistically significant differences in infestation rates recorded among the cultivars, where Deglet Noor showed the highest infestation rate (162.4), followed by Khadhrai (99.8) and Saidi (45.0). Furthermore, a significant spatial response was observed regarding uninfested palms, particularly between Wadan and Hun, yielding 50.0 and 20.6, respectively. The data demonstrated pronounced statistical differences between regions for Deglet Noor, specifically between Wadan and Hun (275.0 and 120.0) and a lesser significance between Hun and Sawknah (120.0 and 91.7). Conversely, no significant differences in infestation levels were observed among regions for the Khadhrai, Taghyat, and Saidi cultivars. Regarding overall regional productivity in tons for both infested and uninfested palms, the response of cultivars across the three locations was statistically non-significant. In conclusion, scale insects represent a substantial threat that compromises date palm health and agricultural sustainability in Al-Jufra, necessitating integrated pest management approaches to mitigate production losses.