Document Type : Agricultural Entomology
Authors
Abstract
There are several mirid bug species associated with cultivated- and wild- pistachio trees in Kerman province, southern of Iran. Among them, four species were found dominant. The very young and immature pistachio nuts may be attacked by either adult or nymph of some hemipteran bugs particularly those belonging family “Miridae” in spring. Campylomma diversicorne Reuter, 1878 and Campylomma verbasci (Meyer-Dür, 1843) both attack the newly formed and very young pistachio nuts at early spring causing epicarp lesion. This injury leads to desiccation and dropping of the damaged nuts from the trees. Epicarp lesion is considered as one of the important problems in pistachio orchards in Iran (1), which mainly causes by the mirid bugs. Campylomma verbasci may be considered as phytozoophagous insect (4). As a phytophagous, young nymphs feed on plant sap, pollen and nectar, injury being important on apples. As a predator, nymphs and adults feed on aphids, mites, thrips and pear psylla (3; 6). Campylomma verbasci was also reported as the pest of apple trees in west Azerbaijan, Iran (5).
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