Relative population levels of citrus thrips Scirtothrips aurantii on commercial citrus and adjacent bush

Abstract

N Transvaal lowveld bush containing known host plants of S. aurantii was not the source of early infestation of a navel orange orchard by adult citrus thrips during September and October. Early-season damage therefore resulted from the activities of citrus thrips which had overwintered in the orchard, but populations on wild hosts could boost orchard populations later in the season and contribute to late damage on the fruit. Adult thrips numbers were higher in the bush than in the orchard during November and December in one of the 2 study years. -from Author