medfly

Several Expansions to Santa Clara Medfly Quarantine

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

Over the past month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) have expanded the Santa Clara Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) quarantine in California three times. Their actions resulted in the inclusion of a portion of Alameda County in the quarantine while also expanding the quarantine area …

changes

Changes to Mexfly Quarantines in Texas

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) have made several recent changes to Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines in Texas. DONNA REMOVED On Sept. 10, the agencies reduced the Donna Mexfly quarantine in Hidalgo County by 66 square miles, including 945 acres of commercial citrus. The amended quarantine …

movement

Texas Mexfly Fruit Movement Protocol Revised

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

Federal agriculture officials have revised the requirements for the interstate movement of fresh citrus fruit from core areas of a Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Texas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a revised federal order and protocol on Sept. 23. The protocol in the federal order provides three schedules for the interstate …

fruit fly

California Medfly and Oriental Fruit Fly Updates

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) in September took quarantine actions regarding Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) and Oriental fruit fly (OFF) in California. MEDFLY On Sept. 15, APHIS and CDFA expanded the Santa Clara Medfly quarantine in Santa Clara County. The action was in response …

Tip of the Week

Fall Insect and Mite Management

Daniel CooperPests, Tip of the Week

By Lauren Diepenbrock Unlike northern regions, fall in Florida is not generally a time when insect, mite and other invertebrate pest populations decline rapidly. In Florida citrus, we generally see the opposite of this trend. In the hot, dry end of summer and early fall, mite populations often soar, requiring management to prevent excessive damage to fruit. (See The Florida …

weeds

The Relationship Between Snails and Weeds Needs Research

Daniel CooperPests, weeds

The preference of Bulimulus bonariensis snails to feed on weeds in citrus groves does not necessarily imply that increased weed management will lead to a reduction in pest populations. This relationship requires further research by Lauren Diepenbrock, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor and entomologist. “It’s something I think we really need to look …

snail management

Tools Available for Bulimulus Snail Management

Daniel CooperCitrus Expo, Pests

“Bulimulus snail management is an ongoing challenge, but we have some tools to help!” researcher Lauren Diepenbrock stated in her recent Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo presentation. CHALLENGES Diepenbrock, associate professor of entomology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Citrus Research and Education Center, reported that not every Florida grove is infested with the snails. …

Texas

Texas Mexfly Quarantine Update

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

Federal and Texas agriculture officials amended the Brownsville Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Cameron County and removed the Edinburg Mexfly quarantine in Hidalgo County. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) made the amendments. On Aug. 22, APHIS and TDA reduced the Brownsville quarantine by 67 square …

Bird and Katydid Damage in Georgia Citrus

Tacy CalliesGeorgia, Pests

In late August, Jake Price with University of Georgia Extension reported on damage to citrus caused by birds and katydids. BIRDSAs it is now getting later in the season, fruit are getting larger, and people are noticing more blemishes on fruit.  Birds can cause one type of unusual damage. If you see green fruit that appears scratched or scraped with …

medfly

New Medfly Quarantine in California

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests, Regulation

A portion of Santa Clara County has been placed under quarantine for the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) following the detection of two wild female flies in the city of San José. If not stopped, Medflies can devastate fruits and vegetables by reproducing and leaving larvae in produce. The invasive flies can then spread to other regions. A quarantine is a …

Citrus mealybug

Citrus Mealybug Activity Peaking in California

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests

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 …

snail

Snail Update: Impacts and Abamectin

Daniel CooperPests

Snail impacts on Southeast citrus production can be devastating. A big part of the problem is not the damage to citrus trees but the harm the pest inflicts on irrigation systems. Lauren Diepenbrock, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences associate professor and entomologist, conveyed this message to cold-hardy producers during the Citrus Grower’s Summer Update meeting on …

Mexfly

Mexfly Quarantines Reduced in Texas

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

Federal and Texas officials have amended the Brownsville Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Cameron County and the Edinburg-Palmview-Donna Mexfly quarantine in Hidalgo County. In addition, they removed the Sebastian Mexfly quarantine in Willacy County and the Roma Mexfly quarantine in Starr County. The actions taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and …

medfly

Medfly Eradicated From California

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests

A Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) infestation centered in and around the city of Fremont, California, has been eradicated. The eradication ends a 213-square-mile quarantine that began Sept. 6, 2024. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Alameda County agricultural commissioner’s office accomplished the eradication. CDFA used the release of sterile male …

Insect Pests

Insect Pests To Watch for in Georgia

Daniel CooperGeorgia, Pests

Georgia citrus growers are a couple of months away from harvest season. If producers are going to maximize this year’s crop, they need to protect it from insect pests. Apurba Barman, University of Georgia assistant professor of entomology at the Tifton Campus, discussed insect pests during the Southeast Citrus Update in Lyons, Georgia on July 24. He focused on a …

Texas

Changes to Texas Mexfly Quarantines

Tacy CalliesPests, Regulation, Texas

The United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) in July made several changes regarding Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines in Texas. They amended the Harlingen-Sebastian quarantine in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties and the Edinburg-Palmview-Donna quarantine in Hidalgo County. In addition, the Sullivan City quarantine in Hidalgo County …

Mexfly

Texas Mexfly Quarantines Amended or Removed

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

The following Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines were amended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) on June 26: BROWNSVILLE APHIS and TDA expanded the Brownsville quarantine in Cameron County by 21 square miles following a detection, confirmed on June 10, of one Mexfly larva in a …

snail

Snail Poses Threat to Australian Citrus

Daniel CooperInternational, Pests

The Bulimulus sporadicus snail that has caused serious issues in Florida citrus groves by blocking sprinkler jets and drip emitters has been detected in Australia. Staff working at an Approved Arrangement (AA) site at the Port of Brisbane recently reported a suspected detection of B. sporadicus, also known as B. bonariensis, ghost snail or peanut snail. Following the AA report, …

Mexfly quarantines

Texas Mexfly Quarantines Amended

Daniel CooperPests, Regulation, Texas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) recently amended three Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines in Texas. This includes the Brownsville Mexfly quarantine in Cameron County and the Edinburg-Palmview and Donna Mexfly quarantines in Hidalgo County. BROWNSVILLE On May 15, the agencies expanded the Brownsville quarantine by 16 …

Argentine ant

Argentine Ant Management Innovations

Daniel CooperCalifornia Corner, Pests

Native to South America, Argentine ants were introduced to California in 1905. Today, 90% of Southern California and coastal orchards are infested with ants. Some trees experience up to 1 million ant visits per day. Ivan Milosavljević, Citrus Research Board (CRB) entomologist, presented that information in a June 17 webinar that was part of CRB’s Grower Seminar Series. His presentation …