Studies on the damage potential of Closterotomus (=Calocoris) trivialis and Aphanosoma italicum (Hemiptera: Miridae) on citrus

This study aimed to investigate the damage potential of two hemipteran species that are commonly recorded in citrus orchards of the eastern Mediterranean region. These were Closterotomus trivialis Costa and Aphanosoma italicum Costa (Hemiptera: Miridae). Shoots on sweet orange trees were enclosed in muslin cages into each of which eight nymphs or eight adults were introduced not only in the early development of the buds but also in the different stages of the flowering period in 2008 (i.e., 6 and 19 March, 10 April and 2 May). In the experiments, adults of C. trivialis, and nymphs and adults of A. italicum were used. According to the results, in a few cases these insects caused a significant reduction in the number of buds or flowers and fruits dropped in comparison to the controls. However, the number of fruits that finally remained on the trees was not significantly affected. Therefore, the damage potential of these mirids on the fruit production of citrus was not shown to be significant under our experimental conditions.