Thysanoptera species infesting the flowers of citrus in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey

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Abstract: Production of citrus, an important crop for both domestic consumptions and exports, has been increasing year by year in Turkey. Nearly 65% of total citrus production is provided by Adana, Mersin and Hatay provinces located at the eastern Mediterranean Region of Turkey. Considerable numbers of pest species (89 species) cause damage to citrus plants in Turkey and 16 of them are often reported as important species. Some Thysanoptera (thrips) species are considered as pests on citrus in some ecological region of the world. Thrips species occurring in citrus flowers were studied in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey in 2009-2010. Twelve species belonging to three families were identified. In all samples collected, the most abundant species in total adult populations were western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (37.6% in 2009 and 40.6% in 2010), onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lind. (24.9% in 2009 and 23.5% in 2010), Kelly’s citrus thrips (KCT), Pezothrips kellyanus (18.8% in 2009 and 16.6% in 2010) and Thrips major Uzel (13.9% in 2009 and 11.5 in 2010). P. kellyanus was detected only in Hatay province and collected mostly from lemon flowers, consisting of 46.2% and 48.3% of total adult population in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The fruit damage of scarring due to thrips (probably KCT) was higher on lemon fruits in that province than those found in other sampling areas, reaching 6.9% in 2009 and 4.1% in 2010.

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