The scale O. praelonga is an important citrus pest in Brazil and information on its dispersal is based solely on empiric observation. This aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of citrus spraying equipments on the dispersal of the pest. Stick traps were placed on the ground as well as on metal posts at three adjacent rows of citrus plants. The citrus area presented some highly infested plants. Sprayers usually adopted to control pest in citrus orchards were evaluated. The evaluation consisted on counting females, nymphs or parts of the insects adhered to the stick traps. The equipments Martignani and Bié were capable of blowing the insect as far as 15 m. However, Turbo Valência blew waxy parts as far as 22 m from the machine. Equipments with spray guns did not cause insect dispersal. Therefore, even equipments used to control other citrus pests can favor the dispersal of O. praelonga in citrus orchards. This should be carefully considered to improve the current citrus pest management program.
Orthezia; pest dissemination; citrus scale; integrated pest management
