Psyllid capture rates in São Paulo and the Triângulo/Southwest Minas Gerais region of Brazil rose sharply during the second half of August. The average jumped from 1.3 psyllids per trap in the previous two-week period to 6.13 psyllids per trap — a 372% increase.
This spike serves as a warning regarding management of the greening-spreading psyllid, particularly during a time of intense shoot growth in the orchards, Brazilian citrus association Fundecitrus stated.
The rise in the insect population coincides with favorable weather conditions and an abundance of new shoots, which are the insects’ preferred sites for feeding and reproduction. This scenario increases the likelihood of acquiring and spreading the bacterium associated with greening, as psyllids can pick it up while feeding on infected plants and transmit it to healthy ones.
The peak recorded in the second half of August coincides with the period of highest capture rates observed in 2023, when the average reached 8.4 psyllids per trap. In that year, just as now, the rise in the vector population occurred during a period of high shoot availability.
Despite the significant increase observed in August, the average capture rate for 2026 remains below the levels recorded in 2022, 2023 and 2024. That indicates that the overall situation is still more favorable than in those years. However, the spike demonstrates that vector pressure can escalate rapidly under favorable conditions, reinforcing the importance of maintaining rigorous monitoring and control measures.
“In the fight against greening, psyllid control must keep pace with the dynamics of new shoot growth,” said Fundecitrus Executive Director Juliano Ayres. “Therefore, monitoring insect populations and orchard conditions is crucial for guiding control measures and reducing opportunities for the disease to spread. At this time, citrus growers should intensify monitoring and adopt recommended control measures to reduce the presence of the vector and protect the orchard.”
Source: Fundecitrus
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