Check list of piercing-sucking insects in North-eastern Tunisia in the region of Cap-Bon and their host plants

Abstract

The study of the biodiversity of piercing-sucking insects on various crops and weeds in North-eastern Tunisia in the region of Cap-Bon, permitted to identify several pest species. In the different investigated regions and sampled crops, aphids were the most dominant and abundant compared to the others. Twelve aphid species were identified; Aphis gossypii, A. craccivora, A. spiraecola, A. punicae, A. fabae, A. illinoisensis, Toxoptera aurantii, Myzus persicae, Sitobion avenae, Pterocholorides persicae, Rhopalosiphum maidis and Schizaphis graminum. Regarding thrips, seven species were identified; Thrips angusticeps, T. tabaci, Bregmatothrips dimorphus, Anaphothrips sudanensis, Limothrips cerealium, Liothrips oleae and Frankliniella occidentalis, which was the most polyphagous thrips species. Five scale-insect species were recorded in the different investigated locations; Parlatoria ziziphi, Aonidiella aurantii, Icerya purchasi, S. oleae, and Planococcus citri. One species of Psyllidae was registered: Euphyllura olivina in all visited olive stations. One leafhopper species Empoasca vitis in grapevine orchards and finally two species of whiteflies that were reported; Dialeurodes citri in citrus orchard and Bemisia tabaci on pepper crops.