Overwintering Ecology and Novel Trapping Strategies for Sustainable Management of the Common Pistachio Psyllid (Agonoscena pistaciae) in Pistachio Orchards

The pistachio psyllid (Agonoscena pistaciae) is a significant pest in pistachio (Pistacia vera) orchards, leading to serious economic losses. Understanding its overwintering behaviour is essential for developing effective pest control strategies. This study aimed to identify the overwintering habitats of A. pistaciae and to explore an alternative nature-based trapping method to managing its population. Field surveys were conducted over two years (2020–2022) in five key pistachio-growing regions of southern Türkiye. Our findings suggest that the A. pistaciae primarily overwinters in the mature cones of Turkish pine (Pinus brutia) and Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), as well as on the semi-evergreen leaves of oak trees (Quercus brantii, and Q. infectoria). Based on these observations, we developed cone-based overwintering traps and deployed them in pistachio orchards. These traps captured ten times more psyllids than those that were naturally overwintering in cones, which highlights their potential as a pest management tool. This study provides the first evidence of A. pistaciae overwintering in conifer cones and suggests that cone-based traps could serve as a practical and eco-friendly alternative to chemical control methods. Implementing this strategy in pistachio orchards may help reduce psyllid populations while preserving the ecological balance.