Overwintering Ecology and Novel Trapping Strategies for Sustainable Management of the Common Pistachio Psyllid (Agonoscena pistaciae) in Pistachio Orchards

The pistachio psyllid (<i>Agonoscena pistaciae</i>) is a significant pest in pistachio (<i>Pistacia vera</i>) orchards, leading to serious economic losses. Understanding its overwintering behaviour is essential for developing effective pest control strategies. This study aimed to identify the overwintering habitats of <i>A. pistaciae</i> and to explore an alternative nature-based trapping method to managing its population. Field surveys were conducted over two years (2020-2022) in five key pistachio-growing regions of southern Türkiye. Our findings suggest that the <i>A. pistaciae</i> primarily overwinters in the mature cones of Turkish pine (<i>Pinus brutia</i>) and Mediterranean cypress (<i>Cupressus sempervirens</i>), as well as on the semi-evergreen leaves of oak trees (<i>Quercus brantii</i>, and <i>Q. infectoria</i>). Based on these observations, we developed cone-based overwintering traps and deployed them in pistachio orchards. These traps captured ten times more psyllids than those that were naturally overwintering in cones, which highlights their potential as a pest management tool. This study provides the first evidence of <i>A. pistaciae</i> overwintering in conifer cones and suggests that cone-based traps could serve as a practical and eco-friendly alternative to chemical control methods. Implementing this strategy in pistachio orchards may help reduce psyllid populations while preserving the ecological balance.