California Red Scale (Homoptera: Diaspididae): Cost Analysis of A Pheromone Monitoring Program

The benefits of a pheromone monitoring program developed to detect Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell) were estimated and compared to the program’s research costs in the Yuma County, Arizona, Citrus Pest Control District. The results showed that, for real interest rates between 5% and 10%, the benefit-cost ratio was > 1. The 22% calculated internal rate of return compares favorably to commonly accepted estimates of returns on agricultural research funds. We concluded that the funds for red scalc research and the monitoring program have greatly assisted citrus growers in the West and have indirectly benefited society.