Pistachio psyllid and pistachio twig borer are two injurious insects that affect pistachio plants. Pistachio psyllid causes leaves to turn yellow, curl, dry out, and drop prematurely by excreting sticky honeydew. Management relies on insecticide application but resistance has developed. Pistachio twig borer causes young flower clusters to turn black and fall, fruit to drop, and poor twig growth as the small moth lays eggs on clusters and the larvae bore into and tunnel the clusters.

2. Pistachio Injurious Insects
A
Lecture To ToT trainees (
FFS)
By
Mr. Allah Dad Khan
Provincial Coordinator IPM
KPK

3. Pistachio

4. Pistachio psyllid
Agonoscena targionii
• Symptoms
• Leaves turning yellow and necrotic; curling leaves; leaves drying out;
leaves dropping from plant prematurely; leaves may be covered with
sticky honeydew and/or sooty mold; adult insect is generally yellow in
color with brown spots or rings on the abdomen; adult insect is winged
whereas nymphs lack wings
• Cause
• Insect
• Comments
• Insect excretes sticky honeydew which encourages growth of sooty mold
• Management
• Control typically relies on the application of appropriate insecticide but
the insect has developed resistance to organophosphates in certain
countries such as Syria

5. Pistachio twig borer
Kermania pistaciella
• Symptoms
• Young flower clusters turning black and falling
from trees; fruit dropping from tree; poor growth
of twigs; adult insect is a small, dark colored
moth which lays its eggs on flower clusters;
larvae bore into the cluster and tunnel towards
twigs excreting a dark colored frass (excrement)
• Cause
• Insect
• Comments