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Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Pests”
By Jawwad A. Qureshi Several insect pests and mites colonize citrus crops in traditional open orchards. Most pests are localized and are suppressed by predators, parasitoids and entomopathogens to levels that are not economically damaging to the crops. The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is the primary vector of huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Despite biological and chemical control of ACP, growing a …
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Associate Professor Xavier Martini recently wrote an article In the Cold Hardy Citrus Connection about management of mites for fresh market citrus. Martini is an entomologist at the North Florida Research and Education Center. An edited version of his article follows. Two types of mites mainly affect citrus production in …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) in April made several changes to Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines in Texas. This includes: SULLIVAN CITY The Sullivan City quarantine was expanded by 24 square miles to 79 square miles following detection March 12 of Mexfly larvae in sour orange …
By Lauren Diepenbrock Snail management is becoming a more common discussion in Florida citrus with the arrival of a newer species in the Southeast. The snail of concern is Bulimulus bonariensis, previously referred to as Bulimulus sporadicus (Figure 1). Over the past three years, the first emergence of newly hatched snails was noted in late April through early May. The …
By Lauren Diepenbrock and Nicole Quinn In recent years, a new pest has been added to the ever-evolving scope of pest management in Florida citrus: Bulimulus bonariensis snails. These snails, also referred to as ghost snails or peanut snails, were reported to be clogging irrigation jets in Central Florida in 2020 in limited locations. Now, in 2025, they have spread …
A new pictorial guide can help California growers differentiate between the damages caused by the same pest on different citrus varieties. Comparing the Fruit Rind Scarring That Three Early-Season Pests Cause in Mandarin Species and Sweet Orange was published by University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Early-season insect pests — such as katydids, earwigs and citrus thrips — feeding …
The May issue of Specialty Crop Grower magazine is where to find the latest Citrus Industry articles. If your grove is in Florida, there’s a good chance ghost snails have haunted your trees and irrigation equipment. An article from University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professors Lauren Diepenbrock and Nicole Quinn offers some advice on …
By Maegan Beatty During a recent citrus insect management workshop at the Citrus Research and Education Center, Larry Duncan, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences professor, addressed diaprepes root weevil management. This Caribbean pest was introduced to Florida in the 1960s. The adult pests feed and lay eggs in citrus tree canopies. The larvae feed on roots …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) recently expanded two Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines in Texas. This includes the Harlingen-Sebastian Mexfly quarantine in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties, and the Brownsville Mexfly quarantine in Cameron County. HARLINGEN-SEBASTIAN QUARANTINE The Harlingen-Sebastian quarantine has been increased by 68 square …
The European earwig (Forficula auricularia) has been in the United States for more than a century, thriving in all but the far southeastern states. The omnivorous arthropod has been noted as both a pest and as a beneficial insect, feeding on crops as well as on aphids. Recently, researchers have found evidence that suggests it also damages citrus groves, both …
It is much better for Florida citrus growers to be proactive than reactive when managing pest populations. Scouting and monitoring citrus groves is crucial for growers who hope to thwart off impacts from insects like the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). If growers are not successful, they will be behind the eight ball in minimizing the impact of these annual pests. …
By Maegan Beatty During the recent citrus insect management workshop at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Citrus Research and Education Center, Larry Duncan, a nematology professor, discussed the sting nematode. First recognized in the 1980s as a pest of young citrus trees, the sting nematode has adapted to coarse, sandy soils. The pest feeds at …
By Maegan Beatty Last month, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted a citrus insect workshop that covered almost 10 different pests that pose a threat for Florida citrus. Lance Osborne, professor and researcher at the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, presented research on chilli thrips. Chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis) can live in over 150 …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) recently announced a quarantine for huanglongbing (HLB) in Mississippi as well as updates to Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines in Texas. HLB APHIS, in cooperation with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, established a quarantine for the entire state of Mississippi for HLB. The action was taken …
Federal and state agriculture officials have reduced, established and expanded several Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines in Texas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) took the quarantine actions. EDINBURG On Jan. 8, the two agencies reduced the Edinburg Mexfly quarantine in Hidalgo County. The reduction includes the …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is using emergency funding to respond to threats from growing outbreaks of exotic fruit flies. Outgoing U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack approved the transfer of $129.2 million from the Commodity Credit Corporation to APHIS to directly support emergency response efforts domestically and internationally. This funding will …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an investment of more than $70 million in the Plant Protection Act program. This includes funding of 357 projects in fiscal year 2025. The work will strengthen the country’s defenses against plant pests and diseases, safeguard the U.S. nursery system, and enhance pest detection and mitigation efforts. Part of the funding is going …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) made changes to two Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine areas in Texas on Dec. 6. They reduced the Brownsville Mexfly quarantine area in Cameron County and the Harlingen-Sebastian Mexfly quarantine area in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties. However, on Dec. 20, …
Twice in December, agriculture officials expanded the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) quarantine area in California’s Alameda and Santa Clara counties, designated the Fremont quarantine. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) made the expansions Dec. 5 and Dec. 12. The quarantine was expanded in response to …
By Lauren Diepenbrock Pest management is a year-round challenge in Florida citrus. With the warm climate, pests are at the ready as soon as plant resources are available to them. With knowledge of invertebrate biology in relation to tree phenology, growers can develop plans to protect fruit and maintain productive citrus trees. HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC PESTS Populations of some highly problematic …
