Strategic Planning for the Florida Citrus Industry: Addressing Citrus Greening Disease (2010)
Chapter: Appendix F: Significant Citrus Insect and Mite Pests
Appendix F
Significant Citrus Insect and Mite Pests
|
Insect Name |
Distribution |
Management/Control |
Reference |
Additional Information |
|
Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata) |
Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, South America; introduced into the US but successfully eradicated |
Insecticide-treated baits applied to scattered trees in the orchard; most Medfly larvae are killed when fresh fruits are shipped under cold storage |
Thomas et al., 2007; Lanza et al., 2005 |
Serious pest in many areas |
|
Oriental Fruit Fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) |
Asia; occasionally found in Florida and California |
Similar to Mediterranean fruit fly |
Weems et al., 2008 |
Most serious of all fruit flies, except for Mediterranean fruit fly |
|
Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) |
Mexico; Central America; Frequently found in Texas |
Similar to Mediterranean fruit fly |
Weems et al., 2008 |
Less serious than other fruit flies |
|
Insect Name |
Distribution |
Management/Control |
Reference |
Additional Information |
|
Caribbean Fruit Fly (Anastrepha suspensa) |
Caribbean Basin; Commonly found in Florida |
Similar to Mediterranean fruit fly |
Weems et al., 2008 |
Less serious than other fruit flies |
|
Diaprepes Root Weevil (Diaprepes abreviatus), aka West Indian Sugar Rootstock Borer Weevil |
Caribbean; Common in Florida; Found but not widely distributed in Texas and California |
Foliar insecticide applications to kill adults; soil-applied insecticides to kill larvae; parasitic nematodes applied to soil surface to kill larvae in the soil; these measures are not highly effective in controlling the damage |
McCoy et al., 2009; Woodruff, 1985 |
Most serious root weevil pest |
|
Blue-green Root Weevils (Pachneus spp.) |
Limited distribution in the Caribbean Basin and Florida |
Insecticide applications to control adult weevils |
McCoy et al., 2009; Woodruff, 1985; Hall, 1995 |
Feeds primarily on fibrous roots causing minor to moderate yield loss |
|
Little Leaf Notcher (Artipus floridanus) |
Limited distribution in the Caribbean Basin and Florida |
Insecticide applications to control adult weevils |
McCoy et al., 2009; Woodruff, 1985; Hall, 1995 |
Feeds primarily on fibrous roots causing minor to moderate yield loss |
|
Fuller’s Rose Beetle (Asynonychus godmani) |
Occurs widely on many hosts, but is of little significance as a citrus pest |
Insecticide applications to control adult weevils |
McCoy et al., 2009; Woodruff, 1985; Hall, 1995 |
Feeds primarily on fibrous roots causing minor to moderate yield loss |
|
Insect Name |
Distribution |
Management/Control |
Reference |
Additional Information |
|
Exopthalmus spp. |
Limited distribution in the Caribbean Basin; not in Florida |
Insecticide applications to control adult weevils |
McCoy et al., 2009; Woodruff, 1985; Hall, 1995 |
Attacks the crown of the tree in addition to roots and can kill trees |
|
Citrus Leafminer |
||||
|
Phyllocnistis citrella |
Widespread in citrus |
Biological control and insecticide applications to young flush |
Heppner, 1993 |
Exacerbates the severity of citrus canker |
|
Brown citrus aphid |
||||
|
Toxoptera citricida |
Asia, Pacific Islands, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, South. America, Central America, Eastern Mexico, Florida, northern Portugal and northern Spain |
Biological control; insecticide application usually not beneficial |
Halbert et al., 2004 |
Important primarily as a vector of Citrus tristeza virus |
|
Citrus thrips |
||||
|
Scirtothrips citri |
Northern Mexico and western US |
Application of insecticides |
Kerns, et al., 2001 |
Superficial damage; important only for fresh fruit |
|
Sharpshooters Homalodisca vitripennis (=H. coagulata) |
Southeastern US, Florida, California, Mexico |
Biological control; in California, insecticides used against overwintering adults |
Blua and Morgan, 2003 |
Minor pest; important vector if citrus variegated chlorosis is introduced to California |
|
Brevipalpus mites B. californicus B. obovatus B. phoenicis B. lewisi |
Tropical and subtropical distribution but occur with citrus worldwide |
Biological control and acaricides and oil |
Childers et al., 2001 |
Minor pest; feeds on fruit and blemishes rind; important because some species transmit leprosis |
