Biology of the Psyllopsis repens Log. in Ash trees Habitats in Hamadan Province

Document Type : Scientific Letters

Authors

1 Assistant Prof., Hamadan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Hamadan

2 Research Expert, Deputy of Protection and Conservation, Forest, Range and Watershed Management Organization, Hamadan, Iran

3 Research Expert, Zanjan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, Agricultural esearch, Education and Extension Organization, Zanjan, Iran.

10.22092/irn.2025.370611.1673

Abstract

The ash psyllid, Psyllopsis repens Log. (Homoptera: Liviidae), is a significant pest that causes deformation and curling of ash tree (Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl.) leaves by feeding on plant sap. This study investigated the insect's life cycle, lifespan, nymphal stages, overwintering, generations per year, and some of its natural enemies in ash tree habitats in Hamadan province. The studies were conducted in three habitat areas at altitudes of 1550 to 2400 meters above sea level (ASL) under natural conditions during the years 2016-2017. The insect overwinters as eggs around buds and in sutures and crevices on the trunk. This insect has two generations per year, with each generation having five nymphal stages. Young nymphs appeared at the beginning of April and at the same time as buds bloom, after passing the nymphal stages, the adults appeared in the late of May. Adult of the first generation mate and on week after appearance. After an incubation period of 7-10 days for the first (summer) generation eggs, first instar nymphs appeared in mid-June, and adults of the second generation appeared in late August after completing their nymphal stages. The insect's damage pattern in the first generation involved feeding on plant sap and causing curling in newly emerging leaves early in the season. However, in the second generation, nymphs feeding on plant sap and concentrating on the terminal bud caused the seedling's growth to stop. The incubation period for the second (winter) generation eggs was long, lasting more than 200 days. The natural enemies collected for this pest were the predatory bugs Anthocoris nemoralis (Fabricius, 1794) and Orius minutus (Linnaeus, 1758), the parasitoid wasps Psyllophagus claripes Trjapitzin, 1967 and Marieta picta (Andre, 1878). The results of this research will improve the performance of pest management

Keywords

References

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Iran Nature
Volume 10, Issue 3 - Serial Number 52
September and October 2025
Pages 25-33

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