Metaphycus - Afghan Ag

Citrus Insects

About Citrus Thrips • Adults are about 1 mm long, orange-yellow in color • Wings are fringed with long hairs • 1st instar larva is very small; the 2nd instar is about the same size as the adult • Overwinter as eggs

Adult citrus thrips

2nd and 1st instar larvae

• In spring and summer, adults lay eggs in new leaf tissue, young fruit or green twigs

About Citrus Thrips

Citrus thripsAdults- Abdomen rounded, active

• Larva has spines or hairs not visible with a hand lens

Citrus Thrips Damage • Mostly caused by 2nd instar larvae feeding under the sepals of young fruit, leaving scabs on the rind • Fruit are susceptible to scarring until they are about 3.7 cm diameter • Navel oranges are more susceptible to damage than are Valencia oranges, which often do not require treatment

Citrus Thrips Solutions • Pesticide treatments post-bloom • Organophosphate and carbamate pesticides stimulate thrips reproduction • Thrips rapidly develop resistance to chemicals used repeatedly and frequently for its control • Treatments to prevent foliar damage are not recommended • When monitoring citrus thrips, distinguish them from flower thrips, which feed on flower parts but do not damage fruit

About Citrus Red Mite • Female mites are oval shaped with white hairs • Eggs are laid on both sides of leaves • Populations increase in spring, late summer, and early fall in response to new growth • Active stages prefer to feed on fully expanded young leaves but will also infest fruit

Citrus Red Mite Damage • Feeding results in pale stippling visible primarily on the upper leaf surface • May cause leaf drop and twigs dieback • Stippling or silvering also occurs on green fruit, but damage usually disappears when fruit change color • High populations can cause fruit sunburn in hot weather

Citrus Red Mite Solutions • Mites increase their reproduction on water-stressed trees. Good irrigation reduces red mite outbreaks. Water roads to limit dust buildup, which also promotes mites. • The most important natural enemies are predaceous mites, however, predaceous insects, and a virus are also important in regulating citrus red mite populations • Hot temperatures and low humidity also reduce citrus red mite populations • Monitor orchards and use narrow range selective miticides whenever possible

About Armored Scales • Female scales remain under a cover throughout their life, and do not move

Red Scale

• Females lay many eggs; 1st instar 'crawlers' move around to find suitable places to settle • Mature males are winged and do not cause damage

Purple Scale

Scale Crawlers

Armored Scales Damage

• Feeding on leaves causes yellowing; on young fruit the feeding sites remain green • High populations may cause defoliation and twig dieback

Armored Scales Solutions • High levels of resistance to organophosphates and carbamates • Scales are often controlled by resident and augmented natural enemies • Minimize use of broadspectrum pesticides

Adult Male Red Scale

Aphytis parasitoid

About Soft Scales Cottony Cushion Scale Brown Scale

• Soft scales reproduce without mating and lay many eggs • May settle on leaves, twigs, branches, and trunk, and less often on fruit

Black Scale

Citricola Scale

Soft Scales Damage • Extract plant sap from leaves, twigs, and branches, reducing tree vigor • Soft scales secrete honeydew, promoting the growth of sooty mold; downgrades fruit quality • Heavy infestations may cause leaf and fruit drop, and twig dieback

Soft Scales Solutions • Predatory beetles • Parasitic wasps, Metaphycus spp. • Control ants, that interfere with biological control • If treatment is necessary, apply summer oil treatment as soon as possible when crawlers are present

Metaphycus exit hole