Control of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, with ground and aerial application of selected insecticides

Abstract

The Asian citrus psyllid, (ACP) Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, is subject to intense insecticidal control in Florida due to its role in the spread of greening disease or huanglongbing. Aerial application is a rapid and efficient way to deploy insecticides, although, effectiveness against ACP compared to ground application has not been sufficiently evaluated. Aerial and ground insecticide applications were made in designated plots covering 154 acres of ‘Valencia’ x ‘Carrizo’ oranges in southwest Florida. Ground applications were conducted with an airblast sprayer at 125 gal/acre and aerial applications were conducted with a fi xed-wing aircraft at 10 gal/acre. We used tap samples to evaluate adult psyllid populations in the fi eld. The broad-spectrum insecticides fenpropathrin (Danitol) and phosmet (Imidan) functioned well after application by air and their effi cacy was not improved by adjuvants. In contrast, the more selective insecticides spinetoram (Delegate), and imidacloprid (Provado) provided little control when applied by air but performed satisfactorily by ground application. Control with spinetoram seemed to be improved by the addition of 435 oil.