seasonal forms and reproductive potential of the common pistachio psylla, Agonoscena pistaciae (Hem., Psylloidea)

• Published in: Journal of applied entomology (1986) Vol. 129; no. 6; pp. 342 - 346
• Main Authors: Mehrnejad, M.R, Copland, M.J.W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin, Germany Blackwell Verlag GmbH 01-07-2005; Blackwell
• Subjects: Agonoscena pistaciae; Biological and medical sciences; diapause; eproductive diapause; fecundity; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; insect morphology; insect reproduction; morphs; ovarian development; oviposition; photoperiod; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Pistacia vera; polymorphism; pre-oviposition period; Protozoa. Invertebrates; psylla; Psylloidea; seasonal forms; seasonal variation; summer forms; temperature; winter forms; Iran; psylla; seasonal forms; Insecta; Diapause; Pistacia vera; Psylloidea; Pistachio; Homoptera; Seasonal variation; Arthropoda; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Fruit tree; Invertebrata; Fecundity; Reproductive potential; Anacardiaceae
• ISSN: 0931-2048; 1439-0418
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0418.2005.00974.x

:  Two distinct seasonal forms were found for the common pistachio psylla, Agonoscena pistaciae, the most serious insect pest of cultivated pistachio trees, Pistacia vera in Iran. The two forms are different morphologically as well as biologically. The summer form is of light colour and readily mates and starts egg laying 1–2 days after emergence, whereas, the winter form is larger, generally darker and in reproductive diapause. The first form is observed under long photoperiod, while the second form is induced under a combination of short photoperiod and low temperature. The combination of long photoperiod and warm temperature enhanced post‐emergence ovarian development in the winter form, showing a close inverse correlation between pre‐oviposition period and increasing temperatures. Both forms of A. pistaciae are adapted to a wide temperature range of 20–30°C for reproduction, and the fecundity of psyllid adults of either summer‐ or winter forms was found to be very high under experimental conditions.