Abstract
The evaluation of ExxonMobil, Helena Chemical Company, PetroCanada, and Sun Oil Company petroleum spray oils for control of citrus rust mite is reported. In an experiment with PetroCanada 455 oil, 20 gallons of oil plus 125 gallons of water per acre applied in April, July, and October did not produce leaf or fruit damage, but did control citrus rust mites for 8 months. One 10 or 15 gallons per acre application of Petro- Canada 455 oil compared favorably with Sun Oil Company 455 oil at the same rates. In general, higher rates of oil provided better and/or longer citrus rust mite control. Oil plus 125 gallons of water per acre provided better residual citrus rust mite control compared to the same oil and rate applied in 30 and 50 gallons of water per acre. A 2 gallon rate of Helena Chemical Company oil provided rust mite control for approximately 40 days in two trials. ExxonMobil 455 oil compared favorably with Sun Oil Company 455 oil at 10 gallons per acre with one application in July. Split applications in June and August of 7.5 gallons of ExxonMobil and Sun Oil Company 455 oils in 125 gallons of water per acre provided 111 days (late June-October) of citrus rust mite control. Overall, petroleum oils from ExxonMobil, Helena Chemical Company, PetroCanada, and Sun Oil Company performed well in these tests.
