Mapping of Spatial Behavior of Scirtothrips perseae (Insecta: Thysanoptera) in Avocado Orchards Using Geostatistical Techniques

Abstract

Currently, the implementation of efficient programs of integrated pest management are of vital importance, especially due to the fact that avocados produced in the study area are sold abroad. This favors the adoption of new technologies to reduce the application of agrochemicals and perform integrated pest management more effectively. The objective of the research was to determine the spatial distribution of thrips in commercial avocado orchards. To conduct the mapping of the spatial distribution, geostatistics was used, since it allows to know the location and mobility patterns of the pest, the present study was carried out in the municipality of Donato Guerra in 2019, Donato Guerra is located in the central zone of Mexico, and it is among the main avocado producers of the state. The distribution of the pest insect was incorporated for all the samples, these samples were taken every fifteen days for a year, obtaining 24 samplings in total. A semivariogram was determined for each sampling date, these semivariograms were adjusted to spherical models in most of the cases, the level of spatial dependence was determined to be high in all dates. The infested area was calculated for all the samplings and maps of pest were made through the kriging technique.