Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #289261
Title: Toxicity of six miticides to the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae)

Author
item Richardson, Matthew
item Hall, David

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2013
Publication Date: 6/1/2013
Citation: Richardson, M.L., Hall, D.G. 2013. Toxicity of six miticides to the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae). Florida Entomologist. 96:433-441.

Interpretive Summary: Several species of mites can hinder production and experiments with the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) on citrus plants. We tested six miticides to determine whether they were safe for ACP so that they could be used to control mite populations on citrus plants, but keep ACP alive on those same plants. Two miticides were toxic to each life stage of ACP, one miticide was non-toxic to each life stage of ACP, and the other three miticides were toxic to some, but not all, life stages of ACP. Our results can be used by facilities that wish to produce ACP and control mite populations. Our results also may be useful for killing ACP in greenhouse and field environments.

Technical Abstract: The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), is an important pest of citrus. Research into strategies to control ACP is ongoing at many facilities, including at the USDA-ARS U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory (USHRL) in Fort Pierce, Florida. The USHRL maintains colonies of ACP, but their survival is often threatened by mites which render host plants unsuitable for ACP. Our objective was to identify miticides/insecticides that could be used to control mite outbreaks with minimal or no adverse affect on ACP. We tested the following six miticides in greenhouse trials for their toxicity to each life stage of ACP and also investigated sublethal effects on development and oviposition of ACP: bifenazate (Acramite 50 WS), spirodiclofen (Envidor 2 SC), dicofol (Kelthane MF), pyridaben (Nexter), petroleum oil, and chlorfenapyr (Pylon). The miticides differed in their toxicity when applied directly to ACP. Bifenazate was the only miticide that was not toxic to any life stage of ACP, whereas pyridaben and chlorfenapyr, which are also labeled as insecticides, were toxic to all life stages of ACP. Petroleum oil and dicofol each killed adult and nymphal ACP, but were nontoxic to eggs. The duration of residual activity against adult ACP also was widely variable: dicofol residues were only toxic for up to 10 days, whereas chlorfenapyr residues were still toxic after 36 days. We recommend using dicofol, pyridaben, petroleum oil, and chlorfenapyr to maintain clean plants prior to colonization by ACP and then rotating bifenazate and spirodiclofen, if maintaining adult ACP, or bifenazate, dicofol, and petroleum oil, if maintaining eggs. Bifenazate is the only product safe for maintaining nymphal ACP. Our results are useful for research facilities that wish to maintain colonies of ACP and control mites and may be useful for citrus growers and researchers that wish to kill ACP and mites with a single treatment.