Population dynamics of aphids (Aphididae) on orange (Citrus sinensis ‘Thomson Navel’) and mandarin (Citrus reticulata ‘Blanco’)

Abstract

Citrus fruits represent one of the most important fruit productions worldwide. However, they suffer from a numerous constraints. Aphids are among the causes of the decline in the production of citrus. In this study, the diversity of citrus aphids and their seasonal occurrence were explored on orange and mandarin, during 2012 and 2013, in an orchard located in Skikda province (Algeria). In total, six different aphid species were found during two years. The most common species was <em>Aphis spiraecola </em>Patch, 1914. Climatic conditions had an important role in the infestation level by aphids. There were changes of aphid dynamics between the two years of the investigation. No aphids was recorded in six months in 2012 (January, June, July, August, September and December) and in three months in 2013 (January, February and August). Besides, the number of identified aphid species increased from two to five. On the other hand, the orange trees seemed to be the most infested host species.

Fluctuations of aphid populations on grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi Macfad.)

“…Through 2012 and 2013, five aphid species were identified in total (Table 1). They are already reported on other citrus species in Algeria (Aroun, 1986;Benoufella-Kitous, 2005;Mohammedi-Boubekka, 2006;Belkahla et al, 2013;Benoufella-Kitous et al, 2014;Aroun, 2015;Labdaoui & Guenaoui, 2015;Lebbal & Laamari, 2016).…”

“…Tena & Garcia-Marí (2011) considered that these two species are the most harmful to citrus in the Mediterranean region. Its importance on citrus fruits has been mentioned, among others, in Algeria (Lebbal & Laamari, 2016), in Morocco (Elhaddad et al, 2016), in Syria (Abo Kaf, 2005) and in Turkey . Whereas the weak infestation of A. nerii, M. persicae and M. euphorbiae on grapefruit in the studied orchard may be attributed to the competition from other species, particularly A. spiraecola.…”

Revalorización del Complejo de Depredadores Polífagos Asociado al Cultivo de los Cítricos, Como Agentes de Control Biológico de Plagas Claves

“…Gómez-Marco et al (2016a, b) demonstrated that a sown grass cover enriched with wild forbs improved the biological control of aphids in citrus since it promoted the early presence of predators, including Scymnus species, in citrus canopies, before aphid exponential increase. At a regional scale, either by the samplings made in this study, or by those carried out by other researchers previously in the Mediterranean region (Hermoso de Mendoza et al, 2012;Mostefaoui et al, 2014;Lebbal & Laamari, 2016), the most abundant aphid species in citrus crops has been identified to be A. spiraecola. However, although both Scymnus species are the most abundant predators registered in the region, there is some controversy about which of the two could be the most important based on their demography.…”

“…Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are major pests of clementine mandarin crops (Citrus clementina Hort. ex Tan) in the Mediterranean basin (Marroquín et al, 2004;Franco et al, 2006;Yahiaoui et al, 2009 (Llorens, 1990;Urbaneja et al, 2000;Hermoso de Mendoza et al, 2006;Lebbal & Laamari, 2016). Sap suction during aphid feeding activity causes a general weakening of the plant.…”

“…Citrus crops are affected by several species of aphids. The two main species in the Mediterranean basin are Aphis spiraecola Patch and A. gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) (Zappalà, 2010;Tena & García-Marí, 2011;Hermoso de Mendoza et al, 2012;Vacante & Gerson, 2012;Belati & Belabed, 2013;Lebbal & Laamari, 2016). Both aphids infest young, tender, citrus shoots on which they can cause severe damage by consuming leaf contents, excreting large amounts of honeydew, and serving as a vector for Citrus tristeza virus capítulo 4…”