Sampling and distribution pattern of<i>Trioza erytreae</i>Del Guercio, 1918 (Hemiptera: Triozidae) in citrus orchard

Developing efficient sampling protocols is essential to monitor crop pests. One vector of the citrus disease HLB, African psyllid Trioza erytreae Del Guercio, 1918 (Hemiptera: Triozidae), currently threatens lemon industry throughout Mediterranean region. In this work, a pool methods devoted monitoring population T. was compared, its spatial distribution in orchard assessed, and minimum effort for best method estimated. Three orchards North-western Portugal were sampled one year using two types yellow sticky traps (standard fluorescent Saturn yellow), B-vac sweep net sampling. The that performed, terms cost-efficiency, traps. colours tested did not yield significantly different number catches. found be aggregated towards borders. A three per hectare enough estimate at 90% accuracy mean during outbreak. These results should help anticipate outbreaks may even colonize neighbour orchards. Studies on local dispersion patterns are mandatory further refine optimize protocols.