[Edited_by_A._Ciancio,_C.N.R.,_Bari,_Italy_and_K.(Bookos.org)

IPM OF CITRUS PESTS IN GREECE
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Today the list with the registered insecticides for use against the citrus leafminer
in Greece includes acetamiprid, (in nurseries for lemon, mandarin and orange),
azadirachtin (grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, orange), buprofezin (bitter orange),
flufenoxuron (lemon, orange) imidacloprid (grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, orange),
methoxyfenozide (mandarin, orange), paraffin oil (bitter orange), tebufenozide
(mandarin) and thiamenthoxam (lemon, mandarin, orange) (Authorized Plant
Protection Products Data Base of the Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and
Food, 2008).
2.4.5. Recommended IPM Strategies
Manipulation of the timing and quantities of irrigation and fertilizers provided and
pruning in order to separate the main growth flushes (spring–summer–autumn) and
decrease the susceptibility of the summer flush, when the citrus leafminer is active,
contributes to maintenance of the pest populations at low levels (Anagnou-Veroniki,
1995; Katsoyannos, 1996a, 1996b; Michelakis & Vacante, 1997). Conservation of
the established exotic parasitoids and native beneficials is essential for the control of
the citrus leafminer in the productive orchards. Chemical treatments using selective
insecticides for the control of the pest should be restricted in the nurseries.
2.5. Aphids
Commonly, aphids can be very important pests in citrus-growing areas under
favourable environmental conditions due to their high reproductive potential which
results in several generations per year and the production of alate adults which can spread
very quickly and migrate to great distances (Kavallieratos et al., 2005; Athanassiou,
Kavallieratos, Tomanović, Tomanović, & Milutinović, 2005). Nevertheless, aphids
infesting citrus in Greece and generally in the northern Mediterranean countries are
most often kept in low numbers under biological control by several indigenous
parasitoids and predators (Katsoyannos, 1996a).
Nine aphid species have been reported to infest citrus trees in Greece, which refer
to Aphis craccivora Koch, Aphis gossypii Glover, Aphis spiraecola Patch,
Aulacorthum solani (Kaltenbach), Brachycaudus helichrysi (Kaltenbach),
Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), Myzus persicae (Sulzer), Rhopalosiphum
maidis (Fitch) and Toxoptera aurantii (Boyer de Fonscolombe) (Kavallieratos &
Lykouressis, 1999). The exotic Aphis spiraecola and the indigenous Toxoptera
aurantii and Aphis gossypii are the most important aphid species on citrus in the
region (Argyriou, 1969).
Strict monitoring and quarantine procedures must be followed for continued
exclusion from the EPPO region of Toxoptera citricida (Kirkaldy) (EPPO A2 List,
2004), which is the highest potency vector for Citrus Tristeza Closterovirus (CTV)
causing the homonymous destructive virus disease of citrus.
Aphis gosypii is also an efficient vector of many isolates of CTV, whereas T. aurantii
is a less efficient vector. The prevention of aphids’ population outbreaks is primarily
based on conservation and, possibly, stimulation of the activity of their natural
enemies (Katsoyannos, 1996a).