University of Tehran Iranian Journal of Plant Protection Science 2008-4781 54 2 2024 02 20 Population fluctuations and spatial distribution of Aonidiella orientalis in the south of Kerman Population fluctuations and spatial distribution of Aonidiella orientalis in the south of Kerman 373 389 97513 10.22059/ijpps.2024.370950.1007047 FA Somayeh Ranjbar Plant Protection Research Department, South Kerman Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Jiroft, Iran Peyman Namvar 2. Plant Protection Research Department, South Kerman Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Jiroft, Iran 0009-0006-0848-9463 Journal Article 2024 01 15 <em>Aonidiella orientalis</em> is one of the most important citrus pests in the south of Kerman. Population fluctuations and spatial distribution of <em>A. orientalis </em>were studied in the south of Kerman Sampling was done from stages of nymphs (1^st instar) and adults on leaves, fruits, and brunches during 2020-2022. The parameters of Taylor’s, Iwao, Morista, and Id power law, RV, and number of optimum samples (at two precision levels of 0.1 and 0.25) were calculated. Results showed that the pest activity started in mid-March and increased gradually, depending on weather conditions. The peak of population happened in mid-April, mid-May, and late September. The spatial distribution of 1^st instar nymphs on leaves and fruits was random based on the Taylor and Iwao index, (b= 0.918 and 0.989 respectively) and it was Aggregative for adults (b= 1.8, 1.5 respectively). Moreover, both nymphs (1^st instar) and adults had uniform and random distribution in the sampling of branches (b= 0.56-0.71) respectively according to the Taylor and Iwao index. As R² values of the Iwao index were higher than Taylor^, 's therefore, Iwao index was used for estimating the spatial distribution and appropriate samples. The number of optimum samples for nymphs (1^st instar) on leaf, fruit, and branch sampling methods were estimated as 24.61, 24.29, and 19.2, respectively with 0.25 accuracy. In three sampling methods, RV was close to 25 and 10 for nymphs (1^st instar) and adults respectively. Overall, in pest management programs sampling can be done on nymphs and for ecological studies on adults. <em>Aonidiella orientalis</em> is one of the most important citrus pests in the south of Kerman. Population fluctuations and spatial distribution of <em>A. orientalis </em>were studied in the south of Kerman Sampling was done from stages of nymphs (1^st instar) and adults on leaves, fruits, and brunches during 2020-2022. The parameters of Taylor’s, Iwao, Morista, and Id power law, RV, and number of optimum samples (at two precision levels of 0.1 and 0.25) were calculated. Results showed that the pest activity started in mid-March and increased gradually, depending on weather conditions. The peak of population happened in mid-April, mid-May, and late September. The spatial distribution of 1^st instar nymphs on leaves and fruits was random based on the Taylor and Iwao index, (b= 0.918 and 0.989 respectively) and it was Aggregative for adults (b= 1.8, 1.5 respectively). Moreover, both nymphs (1^st instar) and adults had uniform and random distribution in the sampling of branches (b= 0.56-0.71) respectively according to the Taylor and Iwao index. As R² values of the Iwao index were higher than Taylor^, 's therefore, Iwao index was used for estimating the spatial distribution and appropriate samples. The number of optimum samples for nymphs (1^st instar) on leaf, fruit, and branch sampling methods were estimated as 24.61, 24.29, and 19.2, respectively with 0.25 accuracy. In three sampling methods, RV was close to 25 and 10 for nymphs (1^st instar) and adults respectively. Overall, in pest management programs sampling can be done on nymphs and for ecological studies on adults. https://ijpps.ut.ac.ir/article_97513_a45abd023c5e4171d410ee187bded5bc.pdf