Arthropod pest composition and abundance on citrus sinensis in the lowland and highland production locales of Kenya

Publication Type

Conference Proceeding

Journal Name

Acta Horticulturae

Publication Date

1-1-2015

Abstract

Studies were conducted at Lukore, Coast province (January 18-July 18, 2012) and Maranjau, Central province (November 15, 2011-March 15, 2012) of Kenya, both representing a lowland and highland citrus production locality, respectively, to assess the composition and abundance of arthropod pests on Citrus sinensis. In Lukore, although a diverse complex of insect pest was found attacking foliage, infestation was dominated by scales (20.1% infested cluster leaves/sample date in young, and 18.9% infested cluster leaves/sample date in old orchards) and whiteflies (15.7 and 21.2% infested cluster leaves/sample date in young and old orchards, respectively). Fruit infestation was dominated by the false codling moth Thaumatotibia leucotreta (52.0 and 48.1%, in young and old orchards, respectively) and the invasive fruit fly, Bactrocera invadens (40.2% in young orchard, and 37.1% in old orchard). In Maranjau, the African citrus psyllid Trioza erytreae ranked highest among the foliar pest, causing 65.1% infestation of cluster leaves/sample date in young and 50.2% infestation in old orchards. On fruits, 32.3 and 33.9% of collected fruits were infested by B. invadens; and 30.7 and 33.8% were infested by T. leucotreta, in the young and old orchards, respectively. The results provide important baseline information required to guide further bioecological studies and for development of integrated pest management measures for citrus these pests.

Keywords

Abundance, Arthropod pests, Citrus, Composition, Kenya, Management

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