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ASIAN CITRUS PSYLLID

 

 

Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Insecta: Hemiptera: Psyllidae)

 

(Contacts)

 

 

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       The Asian Citrus Psyllid that vectors a bacterial pathogen that causes Huanglongbing Disease is currently spreading worldwide and poses a severe threat to the citrus industries of many nations.  There is no effective control other than the possible development of resistant citrus varieties.  Such development requires decades to implement and is not a viable approach in the short term. As of 2011 the pest has been detected in scattered localities throughout Southern California but in very low numbers.  Also, the destructive bacterium that is associated with it was first detected in 2012.  Nevertheless, ignoring the ultimate threat, citrus is still being planted in city landscaping projects and all varieties are being widely sold throughout California

 

       Attempts to control this psyllid by the importation of natural enemies have begun in 2011, but the exact point of origin is unclear and the probability of success is uncertain.  This is largely due to the fact that the bite of only a single psyllid individual can inoculate the disease-causing pathogen.  Nevertheless two parasitic wasps, Tamarixia radiata and Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis have been imported from northern Pakistan and liberated in Southern California where the psyllid occurs. Tamarixia (Family: Eulophidae) is now established.  It was first described in 1922 from specimens that emerged from the Asian psyllid on lemons in Lyallpur (modern day Faisalabad in Pakistan).  Ongoing investigations are to determine its impact on the psyllid and its adaptability to the California climate.  [Further details = Asian Citrus Psyllid and More]

 

       Without effective natural enemies, insecticide treatments for the Asian psyllid as it advances into Inland areas can only be a temporary halt to the invasion of this pest.  There are no geographical barriers between the Inland and coastal areas of Southern California where the psyllid is now established, and therefore the insect will reinvade again and again.  The eradication effort would have been more effective if it had been carried out at sites where the pest was originally detected in the coastal areas.  Also, the psyllid, with the accompanying bacterial pathogen, has also been found in Sacramento in packages from India, and it is doubtful that such  "Innocent" mailings can ever be halted.


       In the mid-1960's a statewide Department of Biological control existed in the University of California with 40 or more professional entomologists, most with PhDs from noteworthy institutions.  Control of insect pests with the potential severity of the Asian citrus psyllid were immediately assigned to a number of specialists whose mission involved not only a search worldwide for natural enemies but also included specialists from other countries who possessed information on any development of plant resistance.  The United States Dept. of Agriculture also directly cooperated with efforts in the search and screening of natural enemies for importation.  The elimination of the Biological Control Department within the University of California system and the massive transfer of available funding to genetic engineering pursuits, have placed pest control in a very precarious situation.  Not only is the Asian citrus psyllid a major concern, but also due to the accelerated rate of invasions of exotic pests, largely through California ports, serious pests of apple, grapes, almonds and other vital agricultural crops are being detected every year.


       There are several aspects of the invasion that must be closely followed:


       1.  Will the psyllid population be able to withstand the California climate?  The Mediterranean fruit fly has been widespread in California for over 100 years, but only occasionally is detected and has never caused a problem to agriculture in the state.


       2.  As with the leafhopper that vectors a virus pathogen of oleander, will there be a quick recovery of the plants after infection?

       3.  Similarly as with the East Indian brown cricket, will local predatory fauna and climate restrictions reduce the psyllid to more inconspicuous levels in a few years?


       4.  Could California's higher latitude be an asset to reducing the severity of the disease?  In Florida by 2012 the psyllid had devastated the southern quarter of that state, but it is a lesser problem in the central primary citrus growing area.  In the citrus-growing areas of California the 32 plus degrees of latitude is much higher than Central Florida.

 

       5.   Will the establishment of two new parasitic wasps from India and Pakistan reduce the psyllid population low enough to reduce the threat?

 

 

        The following websites also contain information on the Asian Citrus Psyllid:

 

http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/citrus/acpsyllid.htm

 

http://www.ipmimages.org/browse/subthumb.cfm?area=123&sub=9257

 

http://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu/agriculture/citrus/asian.shtml

 

http://www.californiacitrusthreat.com/asian-citrus-psyllid.html

 

http://cisr.ucr.edu/asian_citrus_psyllid.html

 

http://cisr.ucr.edu/blog/psyllids/hunting-for-natural-enemies-of-asian-citrus-psyllid-in-pakistan/

 

http://cisr.ucr.edu/blog/invasive-species/tamarixia-radiata-release-video/

 

http://cisr.ucr.edu/blog/news/first-release-of-tamarixia-radiata-in-california-for-the-biological-control-of-asian-citrus-psyllid/

 

 

REFERENCES:          [Additional references may be found at:   MELVYL Library ]

 

 

Atwal, A. S., J. P. Chaudhary & M. Ramzan.  1970.  Studies on the development and field population of citrus psylla, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Psyllidae: Homoptera).  Journal of Research Punjab Agricultural University 7: 333-338.

 

Bindra, O. S., B. S. Sohi & R. C. Batra.  1974.  Note on the comparative efficacy of some contact and systemic insecticides for the control of citrus psylla in Punjab.  Indian Journal of Agricultural Science 43: 1087-1088.

 

Capoor, S. P., D. G. Rao & S. M. Viswanath.  1974.  Greening disease of citrus in the Deccan Trap Country and its relationship with the vector, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama. p. 43-49. In Weathers LG, Cohen M (editor).  Proceedings of the 6th Conference of the International Citrus Virology, University of California, Division of Agricultural Sciences.

 

Catling, H. D.  1970.  Distribution of the psyllid vectors of citrus greening disease, with notes on the biology and bionomics of Diaphorina citri.  FAO Plant Protection Bulletin 18: 8-15.

 

Costa Lima, A. M. da.  1942.  Homopteros.  Insetos do Brazil 3: 1-327. Esc. Na. Agron. Min. Agr.

 

Grafton-Cardwell, E E., K. E. Godfrey, M. E.  Rogers, C. C. Childers &  P. A. Stansly.  2006.  Asian Citrus Psyllid.  U. C. ANR Publication. 8205. Oakland, CA.

 

Hall, D. G.  2006.  A closer look at the vector: Controlling the Asian citrus psyllid is the key to managing citrus greening.  Citrus & Vegetable Magazine 70 (5): 24-26.

 

Hall, D. G., M. G. Hentz, &. R. C. Adair Jr.  2008.  Population ecology and phenology of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) in two Florida citrus groves.  Environmental Entomology 37: 914-924.

 

Husain, M. A. & D. Nath.  1927.  The citrus psylla (Diaphorina citri, Kuw.) (Psyllidae: Homoptera)  Memoirs of the Department of Agriculture India 10: 1-27.

 

Mangat, B. S.  1961.  Citrus psylla (Diaphorina citri Kuway) and how to control it.  Citrus Industry 42: 20.

 

Mathur, R. N.  1975.  Psyllidae of the Indian Subcontinent.  Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. 429 pp.

 

Miyakawa, T, H. Tanaka & C. Matsui.  1974.  Studies on citrus greening disease in southern Japan.  p. 40-42 In Weathers L. G & M. Cohen (editors).  Proceedings of the 6th Conference of the International Citrus Virology, University of California, Division of Agricultural Sciences.

 

Moll, J. N. & S. P. van Vuuren.  1977.  Greening Disease in Africa. 1977 International Citrus Congress, Orlando,  Florida, Program and Abstracts. 95 pp.

 

Pande, Y. D.  1971.  Biology of citrus psylla, Diaphorina citri Kuw. (Hemiptera: Psyllidae).  Israel Journal of Entomology 6: 307-310.

 

Polek, M, G. Vidalakis & K. E. Godfrey.  2007.  Citrus Bacterial Canker Disease and Huanglongbing (Citrus Greening).  U. C. ANR Publication. 8218. Oakland, CA.

 

Raychaudhuri, S. P. Nariani, S. K. Ghosh, S. M. Viswanath & D.  Kumar.  1974.  Recent studies on citrus greening in India. p. 53-57. In Weathers LG, Cohen M (editor).  Proceedings of the 6th Conference of the International Citrus Virology, University of California, Division of Agricultural Sciences.

 

Rust, M. K. & D-H. Choe.  2012.  Pest Notes: Ants.  U. C. ANR Publication 7411. Oakland, CA.

 

Schwarz, R. E., L. C. Knorr & M. Prommintara.  1974.  Citrus greening disease in Thailand.  FAO Technical Document No. 93: 1-14.

 

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.  1959.  Insects not known to occur in the United States. Citrus psylla (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama). No. 88 of Series.  Cooperative Economic Insect Report 9: 593-594

 

Wooler, A, D. Padgham & A. Arafat.  1974.  Outbreaks and new records. Saudi Arabia. Diaphorina citri on citrus.  FAO Plant Protection Bulletin 22: 93-94.