Amblypelta spp. (Hemiptera: Coreidae) and green fruit drop in lychees

Abstract

The fruitspotting bug Amblypelta nitida Stål., was responsible for more than 93.5% of green fruit drop in lychees in 1985/1987 at Maroochy Horticultural Research Station, Nambour (lat. 27 °S). A. nitida at other locations in southeast Queensland and A. lutescens lutescens (Distant) in north Queensland (lat. 17 °S), caused green fruit drop ranging from 24.8% to 98.5%. These results suggest that fruitspotting bugs may be the most important factor inducing lychee fruit abscission in some areas.

Keywords:

• Amblypelta
• lychees
• fruit drop
• crop loss