This paper aims to evaluate the populational dynamics of Aleurocanthus woglumi throughout one year, verifying the season with higher density, its populational peaks and citrus blackfly distribution in Citrus spp. in two orchards, in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. To study the populational dynamics, 10 plants were selected at random, in each orchard, as well as 20 leaves per plant, from July 2006 to June 2007, and the number of layings, eggs and nymphs was counted. To determine the vertical distribution of A. woglumi, plants were divided into quadrants: North, East, South and West, and 5 leaves/quadrant were removed, totaling 200 leaves per collecting area. Regarding to distribution over the plant, the delineation was entirely randomized adopting a 2 x 4 factorial scheme (dry and rainy seasons x quadrants), with 13 repetitions (number of collections). It accomplished an exploratory analysis of data and averages submitted to Tukey test at a 5% probability rate. It was observed that on the two locations the insect was distributed homogeneous on the tree canopies and that the highest populational levels of A. woglumi occurred in the low precipitation season (from July to December 2006).
Aleyrodidae; population fluctuation; citriculture
