Photo by James Castner
Georgia citrus growers are a couple of months away from harvest season. If producers are going to maximize this year’s crop, they need to protect it from insect pests.
Apurba Barman, University of Georgia assistant professor of entomology at the Tifton Campus, discussed insect pests during the Southeast Citrus Update in Lyons, Georgia on July 24. He focused on a couple of pests that are expected to cause problems for the state’s growers.
“Right now, we have a lot of citrus leafminers. The leafminers get in when there’s a new flush. We typically get between three and four flushes on citrus here in Georgia. Leafminer is the first insect pest that growers need to be thinking about controlling,” Barman said. “We also see some red mites that need to be taken care of. Periodically here and there, we also see some scale insects, whiteflies and aphids, but those are minor. The leafminer and red mite are pretty consistent throughout the area.”
Scouting remains the most efficient way that growers can manage insects effectively. Instead of making a certain amount of insecticide applications no matter if they have an insect problem or not, growers should scout their trees regularly to see if there is a problem.
“Use a scout service or do the scouting yourself. You’ll learn a lot about it, and you’ll not be wasting insecticides if you do not need to apply them,” Barman advised. “Always start with scouting. If you see insect activity, see what the level is. For example, with leafminers, you don’t get them in some of the varieties. You get more leafminers on satsuma, Shiranui or grapefruit, so look a little more closely on those varieties. Select the right chemical and follow the recommended dose.”
By Clint Thompson and Dale Sandlin
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