May 2005. Scale insects were found on citrus and other crops on the weather coast (south) of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. Conmtrol measures were asked for that might be suitable to a subsistence economy.

The citrus scales was identified as a ‘Hemiberlesia’ type (top row). and possibily Icerya seychellarum (bottom, left), whereas that on sugarcane is a pemphigid aphid, not a scale (bottom, right). As for control measures, if there is no soap or oil, then there is a real problem, and then the question to ask is why the plants are not growing well in the first place. It might suggest that the plants are under some ‘stress’. Ants locally can be controlled with boiling water on the nests, although this can be quite laborious. Alternatively, if a greasy band can be put around the stem or trunk of the young plants this will prevent the ants from reaching the scales/mealybugs. Perhaps the juice from a Ficus species. If sticky bands were used, it might be possible to incorporate (natural) substances that are rich in boron into it.

The type of ant was also said to be important, but no details were given.