The African citrus triozid Trioza erytreae Del Guercio (Hemiptera: Triozidae): temporal dynamics and susceptibility to entomopathogenic fungi in East Africa

Abstract

The African citrus triozid Trioza erytreae Del Guercio (Hemiptera: Triozidae) is the most destructive citrus pest. Presently, biological data on T. erytreae are insufficient for important parameters like distribution, seasonal dynamics and entomopathogens. Therefore, we determined the temporal dynamics of T. erytreae along three different altitudinal gradients in Kenya. In low altitudes, females of T. erytreae reactivated and started laying eggs between late February and early March. The mean monthly number of immature stages of T. erytreae per flush shoot peaked in February, whereas adults peaked in March. For mid-altitudes, T. erytreae mean populations peaked in February, but adults were already present in December. In high altitudes, adults appeared in June, and females began laying eggs. Trioza erytreae population densities in shaded trees positively and significantly correlated with unshaded trees. There was a significant difference between adult density and maximum temperature, average temperature, solar radiation, evaporation and dew point. Furthermore, this study evaluated the effects of 11 Metarhizium anisopliae and 4 Beauveria bassiana fungal isolates against adult T. erytreae under laboratory conditions. Metarhizium anisopliae ICIPE 18 and ICIPE 69 were the most potent isolates, causing 97.5% and 82.5% mortalities within the shortest LT50 time of 4.4 and 5.9 days, respectively. The presence of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) on Zanthozylum capense requires further investigation. Our findings provide relevant information for early detection, monitoring and developing biopesticides against the pest.

Climate‐induced range shifts of invasive species (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama)

“…Google Earth Pro was used to confirm the latitude and longitude values of occurrence records that lacked specific geo‐coordinates. This was complemented by additional global distribution data from Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar, PubMed and MEDLINE 10–12, 14, 19–21, 25, 35–45 The keywords used during the search were Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri , D. citri , HLB, vector of huanglongbing, first report, backyard gardens and citrus groves, and reference were made to Global Biodiversity Information Facility, 46 Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux International 16 and EPPO 17 . In strict accordance with the requirements of MaxEnt, duplicate records and fuzzy records were removed 47, 48 .…”

Temperature‐based phenology model of African citrus triozid (Trioza erytreae Del Guercio): Vector of citrus greening disease

“…The African citrus triozid (ACT), Trioza erytreae (Del Guercio) (Hemiptera: Triozidae), is considered one of the most destructive pests of citrus (Aidoo et al., 2021). The direct damage of T. erytreae in citrus groves includes curling or notching of leaves, and deposition of honeydews on infested plants (Rwomushana et al., 2017).…”

The period of insect research in the tropics: a bibliometric analysis

“…The first paper by Sunday Ekesi titled “Effect of fungicides used for powdery mildew disease management on the African weaver ant, Oecophylla longinoda (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a biocontrol agent of sap-sucking pests in cashew crops in Tanzania” (Olotu et al 2013 ) was published in 2013. A more recent paper was published in August 2020, titled “The African citrus triozid Trioza erytreae Del Guercio (Hemiptera: Triozidae): Temporal dynamics and susceptibility to entomopathogenic fungi in East Africa” (Aidoo et al 2020 ). Sevgan Subramanian’s first paper appeared in 2014 titled, “Resistance to Iris yellow spot virus and onion thrips among onion varieties grown in Kenya” (Birithia et al 2014 ), and the latest paper in 2017 was titled “Impact of introduced parasitoid Cotesia vestalis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and its parasitoid guild on kale in semi-arid areas in Kenya” (Kahuthia-Gathu et al 2017 ).…”