Infestation of White Waxy Scale on Coffea arabica in Southwestern Ethiopia

Over 49 coffee insect species reported in Ethiopia. However, mealybugs and whitefly are the pests currently recorded in Ethiopia. Ceroplastes brevicauda (Hemiptera: Coccidae) is one of potentially important coffee pest. From assessed coffee trees around 96% and 27% mean infestation of bearing branch and dried branch due to the insect recorded, respectively from coffee hybrids. Coffee berry disease resistant cultivars were exhibit cross-susceptibility against white waxy scale. The white waxy scale although affecting Acacia abyssinica shade tree. Cultural pest management such as pruning infested coffee branches and rubbing the waxy scale by using alcohol is best fits in integrated pest management which usually recommended for coffee producers. Therefore, future research works should be focused on characterizing and identifying the natural enemies and screening insecticides as one management of pest management options.