Status of Cypress Aphid Cinara cupressivora in Tanzania

Insects are a natural and necessary part of a healthy forest ecosystem and most insect species are actually beneficial and only a few present a real problem to forests and forest products. The establishments of exotic plantations in most of tropical and subtropical countries have resulted into invasion of these plantations by a number of diseases and insect pests. The aim of this study was to determine the status of Cypress aphid in terms of its distribution and abundance along the gradient and age classes damage level and natural enemies in SUATF plantation. The information generated from this study could be used by policy makers and forest managers to make proper management decision in dealing with Cypress aphid problems. Therefore objectives of this study were to determine the altitudinal distribution and abundance of Cypress aphid in SUATF to assess the altitudinal distribution and abundance of natural enemies and damage intensity of Cupressus lusitanica of different age classes as a result of Cypress aphid attack.