OCCURRENCE OF SCALE INSECTS IN OLIVE GROVES IN RIO GRANDE DO SUL STATE

Scale insects are major pests of olive cultivation worldwide, in this way, several olive groves were monitored in the municipalities of Santana do Livramento, Bagé, Candiota, Cachoeira do Sul, Pelotas and Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul State, since November 2010, aiming to detect their occurrence and what species affect the crops in the State. Three species were identified: Saissetia oleae, Saissetia coffeae and Quadraspidiotus perniciosus. The first two occurred in all groves, and the third, only at the grove of the municipality of Rio Grande, in trees over 40 years old. These scale insects reduce the plant vigor, owing the sap suction, however, the main damage is related to the decrease in photosynthesis by the appearance of sooty mold caused by the fungus Capnodium sp.