Monitoreo y manejo de Liothrips similis Bagnall en Psidium guajava L. en Mara, Zulia, Venezuela Monitoring and management of Liothrips similis Bagnall in Psidium guajava L. Mara, Zulia, Venezuela

Liothrips similis (LS) is a key pest of guava in Mara, attacking its buds and fruits. We compared the monitoring of LS in foliar buds and green fruits to detect it and decide about management action. From 2008-2010, 8 plants were monitored, counting thrips in 8 fruits and 8 foliar buds·week·plant-1, after each Recibido el 30-6-2010 Aceptado el 5-9-2011 Autor de correspondencia e-mail: magallyq@gmail.com Proyecto Financiado por FONACIT No. G-2002000588 Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2011, 28 Supl. 1: 384-395 385 monitoring we made the decision about the application or not of selective products. The monitoring of LS in buds and fruits was significantly different (P<00001) in 2008 and 2009. Liothrips similis peaked in foliar buds 10, 17 and 2 times in 2008, 2009, and 2010 respectively. Weekly monitoring in foliar buds contributed to early detection of LS, helping on the decision making of applying specific products. Keyword: Liothrips similis, Thysanoptera, Myrtaceae, management