DISTRIBUCIÓN ESPACIAL DE Phyllocnistis citrella STAINTON SOBRE PATRONES DE CÍTRICOS EN EL VIVERO DE LA ISLA DE LA JUVENTUD

One of the problems for fresh fruit production in citrus plantations is pest occurrence, e.g. Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillaridae) detected in Cuba in 1993. It has been considered as one of the most harmful pests of this crop due to the damages caused by larvae in the leaves, sprouts and fruits. To known the dispersion tendency of P. citrella is of so much interest for taking samples and the sampling method. The study was carried out in the Isla de la Juventud nursery on Rugoso, Carrizo and Troyer patterns, from June 1996 to February 1997. Samplings took place weekly in 30 plants previously fixed at random until the they were grafted. A vegetative sprout was taken and the development state and total population of P. citrella were quantified in the pattern studied. Data were evaluated according to Taylor s power law. Results showed that P. citrella distribution pattern was aggregated for the three patterns studied. Variability was found for development state of the insect in the space distribution pattern since eggs and larvae showed aggregation and pupae showed uniform dispersion. This result constitutes a premise to use a good sampling method of P. citrella in the citrus cultivation of Isla de la Juventud. (