Vol. 122 (2009): Proceedings of the Florida State Horticulture Society
Citrus

Chemical control of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama

Dhana Raj Boina
UF/IFAS
Masoud Salyani
UF/IFAS
Lukasz L. Stelinski
UF/IFAS

Published 2009-12-01

Abstract

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, is an important pest of citrus crops worldwide. It is a vector of bacteria in the genus Candidatus Liberibacter, the presumable causative agents of huanglongbing (greening) disease in citrus. A series of laboratory investigations was conducted to determine the effects of spray droplet size and temperature on the toxicity of insecticides against ACP as well as effects of a sub-lethal concentration of imidacloprid. In general, ACP mortality increased as spray droplet size decreased regardless of ACP life stage and insecticide (fenpropathrin) discharge rate. Toxicity of the two organophosphate insecticides, chlorpyrifos and dimethoate, increased with increasing temperature from 17 to 37 °C, while the trend was reversed for two synthetic pyrethroids, fenpropathrin and lambda-cyhalothrin. Feeding by ACP adults and nymphs on plants with a sub-lethal concentration of imidacloprid adversely affected adult longevity, fecundity, and fertility as well as nymph survival and development time. Possible improvements to current ACP management are discussed based on the above results.