Photo by Jeffrey W. Lotz, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bugwood.org
An August citrus mealybug (CMB) pest memo released by University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources warned that CMB activity typically peaks during the summer months. Highlights from the memo follow:
In August, it is critical to access both pest pressure and natural enemy activity. This is a crucial period for making informed decisions that support biological control and avoid using products that harm natural enemies.
MONITORING PRIORITIES FOR AUGUST
- Inspect colonies carefully. Focus on protected areas between the cluster and under the calyces on fruit. Summer generations of CMB develop and multiply on fruit.
- Record population trends. Note any increase in crawler or nymph densities. Crawlers are highly mobile and can spread quickly.
- Record if ants are present. Note any CMB colonies attended by ants. Ants disperse crawlers and nymphs and disrupt biocontrol.
- Watch for signs of parasitism. Natural enemies are abundant and active in August.
- Watch for signs of parasitism of Anagyrus, Leptomastix and other encyrtid wasps.
- Watch for Cryptolaemus or lacewing larvae.
ACTION CONSIDERATIONS
- Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides. If natural enemies are present and parasitism is observed in your orchard, hold off on treatments, especially broad-spectrum insecticides.
- Sprays may disrupt beneficial populations more than control the pest. If application is a must, spray chemistries that are soft on natural enemies or choose a systemic product.
- Ant control to support biocontrol: Ants defend colonies from natural enemies. Minimize ant activity with treatments/bait stations to prevent disruption of parasitoid and predator access to mealybugs.
- Citrus mealybug actively feeds and multiplies through November in the San Joaquin Valley. Map hot spots to monitor and make a targeted application if necessary, while preserving natural enemies elsewhere.
Learn more about CMB, the damage it causes and its management here.
Source: University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
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