Effect of Trimming Bigleaf Podocarp Trees on the Occurrence of Yellow Tea Thrips Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Abstract

Abstract The population density of yellow tea thrips Scirtothrips dorsalis is influenced by the quantity of young shoots for feeding and oviposition. In this study, the effect of trimming windbreaks of bigleaf podocarp trees on the occurrence of the thrips was investigated in citrus orchards. Trimming in mid-June resulted in an increase of the thrips adults and larvae on the windbreaks from mid-July to early August caused by the continuous growth of young shoots.