Abstract

MARTINS*, Vanessa; RODRIGUES, Isabel; PEREIRA, José Alberto  and  BENTO, Albino. Bioecology and damages of the poplar lace bug, Monosteira unicostata (Mulsant & Rey, 1852), in Trás-os-Montes (Northeast Portugal) almond groves. Rev. de Ciências Agrárias [online]. 2020, vol.43, n.spe2, pp.71-80.  Epub Dec 01, 2020. ISSN 0871-018X.  https://doi.org/10.19084/rca.19664.

The almond tree is a characteristic feature of the landscape in Trás-os-Montes, where the largest area of almond groves is concentrated (19 800 ha) in Portugal. The poplar lace bug, Monosteira unicostata (Mulsant & Rey, 1852) (Hemiptera: Tingidae) is considered a key pest, causing direct and indirect damages. The knowledge of its bioecology and the correct risk estimation are fundamental in the phytosanitary decision making. In this sense, the different development stages of M. unicostata were monitored and is damage was evaluated. Thus, weekly, between April and September 2018 and 2019, in an almond orchard, in Alfandega da Fé, leaves were harvested and observed under a binocular stereoscopic to record the number of M. unicostata eggs, nymphs, and adults, as well as visible damage in the leaves. At the same time, the beating technique was also performed. In the leaves, the nymphs were observed from mid-June, with a maximum of 0.6 ± 1.4 nymphs/sample in 2018 and 0.4 ± 1.5 nymphs/sample in 2019. As for adults, the maximum was observed in mid-August, with 0.1 ± 0.4 adults/sample in 2018 and 0.1 ± 0.2 adults/sample in 2019. The catches in the beating technique confirm those recorded on the leaves, with higher values in August and September, with approximately eight specimens/sample. The percentage of leaves with damage increased throughout the year, exceeding 90% in both years.

Keywords : Integrated pest management; pest; population levels; damage.

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