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Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Pests”
Two University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers and an Extension agent authored an article in the Cold Hardy Citrus Connection about the invasive peanut snail in citrus. The authors are Xavier Martini, associate professor of entomology; Issac Esquivel, assistant professor of entomology; and Extension agent Danielle Williams. Excerpts follow. Bulimulus bonariensis (also known as Bulimulus …
On June 27, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) expanded a Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens; Mexfly) quarantine in Harlingen, Texas. The expansion of the quarantine is in response to the confirmed detection between May 26 and June 11 of three wild mated Mexflies from traps in …
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has officially declared an end to the Tau fruit fly quarantine in Los Angeles County following the successful eradication of the invasive pest. The quarantine, which was established in the Santa Clarita area of Los Angeles County, was the first-ever quarantine for the Tau fruit fly in the Western Hemisphere. It encompassed …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) in June established a host list of regulated articles for the Queensland fruit fly (QFF). The pest, which has been found in California, is native to Australia and is not endemic to the United States. QFF attacks more than 120 plant species, including numerous commercial varieties of fruits …
Federal and state agriculture officials on May 31 removed the Oriental fruit fly (OFF) quarantine in Sacramento County, California. The action was taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) after three OFF life cycles elapsed with no additional detections in the area. The …
Agriculture officials on May 20 expanded Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines in areas of Texas containing commercial citrus. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) increased the Harlingen Quarantine and the Sebastian Quarantine, which include areas of Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties. The expansion of the Harlingen Quarantine is in …
Jianhua Mo, a research entomologist with Australia’s New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) authored an article about the release of parasitic wasps for the control of citrus gall wasps (CGW). Edited excerpts follow: CGW is a pest of major concern in the southern citrus-growing regions of the Riverina, Sunraysia and Riverland. With the exception of the adult …
South Africa’s Western Cape Department of Agriculture has given the country’s Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA) 2 million rands (approximately $109,000) to support the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) program to suppress false codling moth. False codling moth is a phytosanitary pest affecting export crops such as citrus, table grapes and stone fruit. The support from the provincial government will help expand …
Agriculture officials and researchers in California have drastically reduced populations of HLB-spreading Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) through biocontrol measures. Now they’re working on ways to control other insects that are intent on protecting the ACP — Argentine ants. Mark Hoddle, professor of Extension in biological control at the University of California, Riverside, Department of Entomology, explained the ACP/Argentine ant dynamics …
Federal and state agriculture officials on May 16 removed the Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis; OFF) quarantine in Santa Clara County, California. The action was taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). It came after three OFF life cycles elapsed with no additional …
Chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis) has been documented in Florida since 1991. This pest has a history of impacting ornamentals, some vegetables, grapes and berry crops. Most recently, chilli thrips has affected citrus, but only in nurseries and in citrus under protective screens (CUPS). Feeding damage includes death of young flush (Figure 1), leaf damage on expanded flush that results in …
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center hosted an OJ Break seminar in mid-May. Topics included management of nematodes, results of trunk-injection therapies and the use of cover crops in citrus. Larry Duncan, a UF/IFAS professor of nematology, presented research findings on the impact of sting nematodes in citrus. He provided …
Federal and Texas agriculture officials have established some new Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens; Mexfly) quarantines in Texas and expanded others. The dates and actions taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) were: APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of …
By Larry Duncan Prior to the introduction of citrus greening disease in Florida, certain conventions applied to the occurrence and impact of diaprepes root weevil in groves across the state. The abundance and damage potential of this major pest were greatest in some Flatwoods habitats, such as parts of the inland East Coast where newly planted trees sustained major damage. …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) has released its Fruit Fly Exclusion and Detection Program Strategy. The plan covers the period of 2024 to 2028. The agency called the document “a unified roadmap” for protecting American agriculture from the threat of invasive fruit flies. USDA APHIS worked with members of the National Plant …
Citrus thrips caused serious problems for many California growers last year. This year, growers appear to be gearing up in case it is another bad season for thrips. “Going into this spring, there’s a lot of eyes on it,” said Colby Campbell, general manager of Cobblestone Fruit. “Everybody’s watching, and I think everybody has made preparations. Guys have called ahead …
Eastern lubber grasshoppers are out in force in some parts of Florida, munching away on citrus, vegetable crops and landscape plants. They can be found from March or April to about October or November in North Florida and the state’s Gulf Coast. They can be economically important throughout Florida. Eastern lubber grasshoppers can completely strip foliage from plants. More commonly, …
Federal and state agriculture officials in March established several Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens; Mexfly) quarantines in Texas. The actions taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) occurred: APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles to prevent the spread …
When it comes to talking about citrus bugs, Lauren Diepenbrock, an entomologist with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), is happy to join the conversation. And that’s just what she did in the March episode of the All In For Citrus podcast. She discussed several key pests that have been problematic for growers in recent …
Two California citrus industry leaders recently shared their perspectives on the prospects of the industry. Al Bates, chief executive officer and president of Sun Pacific, said the yield for this year’s crop is mediocre but that “the fruit size is larger and ideal from a consumer perspective.” The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) projected a 1% increase in …
