PROSPECTS FOR THE USE OF CHILOCORUS BIJUGUS IN THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF THE SAN JOSE SCALE IN SOUTHERN KAZAKHSTAN

The San Jose scale Comstockaspis perniciosa is one of the most dangerous invasive and quarantine pests of fruit crops, which is locally distributed in Kazakhstan and requires the development of environmentally safe methods for population suppression. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the predator Chilocorus bijugus as a potential entomophagous agent of the San Jose scale under the conditions of southern Kazakhstan. During the summer of 2025, 108 samples of C. perniciosa were collected from various types of plantings in Almaty Region; the highest pest abundance was recorded in Talgar district and the village of Bayseit. Species identity of the scale insect was confirmed based on morphological descriptors. Laboratory experiments to evaluate the predatory activity of C. bijugus were carried out under controlled conditions (25± 2°C, 65 ±10% relative humidity, photoperiod 16:8 h light:dark) in plastic containers with twigs bearing live colonies of the scale. The effectiveness of adults and second-instar larvae was assessed by the proportion of scale individuals killed within a standard shoot area after 24 and 48 h of exposure, followed by statistical analysis (ANOV