Color preference,distribution and damage of thrips associated with lemon and orange in adana,Turkey

Yellow,white and blue sticky traps were tested in lemon and orange orchards for their attractiveness to thrips in adana during 2006-2007. traps were adjusted vertically facing to south at a height of 1.5-2.0 m of trees. species composition and distribution of thrips in the orchards were investigated by collecting 125 flowers from different directions of the trees. thrips damage associated with citrus crops was determined by observing 1000 fruits for scars. blue was the most attractive to thrips in both lemon and orange orchards and can be used to estimate the population density and for properly timing control applications. fifteen thrips species and unidentified individuals belonging to 3 genera were determined in these orchards. frankliniella occidentalis was the most captured thrips species accounting for 82.0% of the total individuals sampled in both years. cardinal direction of flowers did not significantly affect the numbers of thrips. fruit damage for both years ranged between 3.8% and 9.1% depending on the citrus varieties. lemon was attacked by thrips more than orange. © 2013 zoological society of pakistan.