A New Pest Thrips Species in Citrus in Adana Province: Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

The chili thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), was first detected on blueberry fruits in 2020 in Adana Province, Türkiye. In 2024, it was found to damage to citrus plants in Adana, specifically affecting fresh shoots in July, leading to stunted growth, leaf curling, and discoloration, all of which negatively impacted trees development. The surveys conducted on different citrus varieties (orange, mandarin, lemon, grapefruit) revealed that almost all shoots were infested, with all developmental stages of the pest, except the pupal stage, being observed. The thrips fed on young fruits, causing silvery ring-like scar tissue both on the fruit surface and around the fruit stem. It was noted that the population density of the pest was closely related to the growth and density of young shoots on trees. In this regard, significant damage caused by this thrips was observed, particularly in the W. Murcott mandarin and Meyer lemon varieties. The thrips was not found on leaves of older shoots. Several control measures were proposed, and the results were discussed.