The first half of November saw the most sprouting ever observed in Brazilian citrus by the Psyllid Alert, reaching 37.4%. This scenario raises an alarm for citrus growers, since the increase in sprouting is directly linked to the growth of the psyllid population, the insect vector of huanglongbing (HLB) disease. HLB is also known as citrus greening.
According to the historical data from the Psyllid Alert platform developed by Fundecitrus, the last time sprouting exceeded 36% was in the first half of August 2023. The following fortnight recorded the highest average number of captures ever recorded by Psyllid Alert: 8.4 psyllids per trap.
Ivaldo Sala, coordinator of the Technology Transfer Department at Fundecitrus, said several regions are already showing significant increases in psyllid infestations compared to the previous fortnight.
“Considering the 23 regions covered by our alert, we saw an average increase of 6% in insect captures during this fortnight,” Sala said. “In the same period last year, this increase was 50%.”
With increased sprouting and the resumption of captures, Fundecitrus stated that it is crucial that citrus growers intensify orchard monitoring and keep areas protected at all times. Maintaining the scheduled pesticide application frequency is also essential, respecting recommended intervals and prioritizing more effective products.
Sala also emphasized the importance of collective action among producers. “When neighboring citrus growers work in a coordinated manner, we avoid re-infestations and gain efficiency,” Sala said. “Rains may momentarily reduce captures, but they favor new sprouting. This usually precedes population peaks of the psyllid. Therefore, the next two weeks will be decisive in preventing the pest pressure from increasing and, consequently, the risk of greening spreading.”
The Psyllid Alert, a free tool provided by Fundecitrus, anticipates risk scenarios. It indicates, based on data collected in the field, the times when insect pressure tends to increase. The recent data reinforces the importance of closely monitoring the platform’s information and adjusting management accordingly.
Source: Fundecitrus
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