Pest Control in Protected Production Systems

In a recent virtual presentation, entomologist Jawwad Qureshi discussed monitoring and control measures for citrus pests in trees under individual protective covers (IPCs) and in citrus under protective screen (CUPS). Qureshi is an associate professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee.

MONITORING METHODS

Qureshi’s noted that pest monitoring is critical for both traditional and protected production systems. The traditional citrus system is open groves; protected systems are those with trees under IPCs or within CUPS.

Qureshi reported that visual observation, tap sampling and yellow sticky cards were useful for detecting HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllids (ACP), citrus leaf miners (CLM), scales, thrips and mites.

Although he reported that IPCs and CUPS protected citrus from ACP and HLB, Qureshi noted that other pests were detected inside those protective devices. Those pests included mealybugs, scales, mites, CLM, thrips and armyworms.

MYCOINSECTICIDES VS. CONVENTIONAL INSECTICIDES

Qureshi stated that spraying mycoinsecticides and conventional insecticides through IPCs resulted in a significant reduction in mealybug populations lasting three weeks. Mycoinsecticides evaluated were:

• BotaniGard 22WP (active ingredient Beauveria bassiana strain GHA)
• BoteGHA ES (active ingredient Beauveria bassiana strain GHA)
• PFR-97 20% WDG (active ingredient Cordyceps fumosorosea Apopka strain 97)
• Isarid WP (active ingredient Cordyceps fumosorosea strain FE 9901)
• Lalguard M52 OD (active ingredient Metarhizium brunneum, strain F52).

Conventional insecticides evaluated were Admire Pro (active ingredient imidacloprid) and Sivanto Prime (active ingredient flupyradifurone).

Qureshi reported that residual effects of mycoinsecticide spraying of trees either through or without IPCs were stronger than spraying with conventional insecticides. He added, however, that laboratory experiments showed strong effects of both conventional and mycoinsecticides on ACP and mealybugs.

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

Parasitoids of scales and CLM and small predators such as predatory mites that attack pest mites and insect pests were detected in CUPS, Qureshi reported. Those detections suggest potential for biological control, he stated. 

Mongi Zekri, UF/IFAS multi-county citrus Extension agent, hosted Qureshi’s virtual presentation.