Assessment of thrips species diversity and their impact on lemon orchards in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Türkiye

Abstract

Thrips are polyphagous, and some species cause serious damage to citrus fruits worldwide including Türkiye. This study was conducted to determine thrips species on different lemon varieties in the Eastern Mediterranean Region in Türkiye. Surveys were conducted on lemon orchards in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Thrips species and damage on lemon varieties in the Eastern Mediterranean Region is not fully examined therefore this study helped to understand the biodiversity and damage of thrips species on lemon orchards in this region. Eight thrips species were determined. Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) was found to be the most common species on Kütdiken, Interdonate and Mayer lemon varieties in Adana and Hatay. Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) was detected as the most common thrips species in Mersin on Kütdiken and Interdonate. T. hawaiensis was first detected in Türkiye in 2015, and it has become the dominant species in lemon orchards in Mersin province. Moreover, the Shannon-Wiener values (H=0,99525, EH=0,478614), and the Simpson Biodiversity values (D=0,44972, Sd=0,5502) were calculated to determine thrips species diversity in the Eastern Mediterranean Region in this study. During the late flowering period, Thrips hawaiiensis had a higher population density in Kütdiken, Interdonate and Mayer varieties. This resulted severe damage to fruit. It is important to note that F. occidentalis does not cause any damage to lemon fruits. In this study, the distribution and biodiversity of thrips species based on lemon varieties were studied in Türkiye, with a focus on their distribution across provinces.