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Tag: Citrus Thrips

24 Jan 2025
Shade cloth over citrus
By Firstfruits Consulting Website Articles , , , , , , ,

FINAL REPORT: Integrated pest management under nets in the Western Cape

We investigated the incidence of citrus pests under netted and in open orchards. Two sites with paired netted and open orchards in the Western Cape were used in the study, one near Porterville and one near De Doorns. Netting differed in the extent of coverage and maintenance of tears. The study found that pests differed more between sites than between open or netted orchards. The differences between pests in netted and open orchards was more pronounced when netting reached to the ground and was repaired regularly.

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20 Mar 2024
Shade cloth over citrus
0 Comments By Firstfruits Consulting Website Articles , , , , , ,

The effect of permanent protective netting on insect pest prevalence in citrus orchards in South Africa

The use of protective netting is becoming an increasingly popular practice in the citrus industry in South Africa. However, data on its effects on biotic factors, particularly insect pests, are limited. This study focused on the effect nets have on key citrus pests in the Eastern Cape province. Orchards under nets and open orchards, of similar cultivars, ages and management practices, were monitored at several sites over two seasons for pest infestation and damage. Weekly monitoring was conducted for Thaumatotibia leucotreta infestation. Other pests were monitored either monthly or once a season. During the first season, T. leucotreta infestation was higher in orchards under nets, probably because, unlike the open orchards, the nets provided protection for the existing high levels of T. leucotreta. No T. leucotreta infestation was recorded in both orchard types in 2019. This was due to generally lower than usual pest abundance and dramatically improved area-wide management of T. leucotreta. Pheromone traps were used to monitor T. leucotreta males, including sterile moths used in a sterile insect technique programme.

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