Population dynamics of Psyllidae on pistachio (Pistacia vera) Bioecological data on Agonoscena pistaciae Burck. & Laut. (Homop. Sternorrhyncha)

Abstract

Among the pests of pistachio orchards in Greece - Agonoscena pistaciae
Burck. & Laut., A. cisti (Puton), A. targionii (Licht.) and Megagonoscena
gallicola (Burck. & Laut.) - the first is economically the most important. A. pistaciae
appears on the leaves of pistachio from mid April and remains during the
whole growing season until the fall of the leaves at the end of November. From
mid August onwards the population density increases rapidly causing severe
problems in this culture. A. cisti appears at the same time as the above mentioned
one and remains on the pistachio leaves in small to medium sized populations
until the end of July while, in small numbers too, M. gallicola is observed from
mid July until the end of August. Finally, in the Avlona area (Attica) A. targionii
was found in one sample only. At the beginning of May the presence of
Chrysoperla carnea Steph. and Anthocoris nemoralis F. and of the parasitoid Psyllaephagus
pistaciae Ferriere is woteworthy. They are found in satisfactory numbers
between the beginning of August and mid-November and play a part in reducing
the populations of A. pistaciae that is on the point of hibernating.