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Title: Bionomics of Asian citrus psyllid (Hemiptera: Liviidae) associated with orange jasmine hedges in southest central Florida, with special reference to biological control by Tamarixia radiata

Author
item Hall, David
item ROHRIG, ERIC - Florida Department Of Agriculture

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/17/2015
Publication Date: 6/1/2015
Citation: Hall, D.G., Rohrig, E. 2015. Bionomics of Asian citrus psyllid (Hemiptera: Liviidae) associated with orange jasmine hedges in southest central Florida, with special reference to biological control by Tamarixia radiata. Journal of Economic Entomology. 108:1198-1207.

Interpretive Summary: The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), is an important citrus pest because it vectors bacteria responsible for citrus greening disease. ACP also infests orange jasmine, a plant widely grown as an ornamental hedge. We report on ACP bionomics over three years at five urban plantings of orange jasmine and on biological control of ACP by a parasitoid called Tamarixia. ACP populations were present year-round at each planting, often at large levels in spite of biological control by Tamarixia. It was probable that repetitive pruning of orange jasmine reduced the full potential of Tamarixia against ACP in this study.

Technical Abstract: The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, is an important pest in Florida because it vectors bacteria responsible for citrus huanglongbing disease. In addition to infesting citrus, orange jasmine (Murraya paniculata) is one of ACP’s favorite host plants and is widely grown as an ornamental hedge. We report on ACP bionomics over three years at five urban plantings of orange jasmine and on biological control of ACP by a parasitoid Tamarixia radiata (Waterston). T. radiata had been released in Florida shortly after ACP was first found, and the parasitoid was known to be established at each planting. Additionally, three new T. radiata haplotypes were released every three weeks at three plantings during the first study year (one haplotype per planting, over all releases an average of 17 parasitoids per linear meter of hedge); all three haplotypes were released at a fourth planting beginning midway through the study (over all releases, an average combined total of 202 parasitoids per linear meter of hedge). ACP populations were present year-round at each planting, often at large levels. Such plantings may pose risk to commercial citrus as ACP reservoirs. Releases of the new haplotypes did not cause any measurable reduction in ACP population levels during the study, and ironically percentage parasitism was generally highest at a planting where no releases were made. Higher release rates might have been more effective. However, it was probable that repetitive pruning of orange jasmine reduced the full potential of T. radiata against ACP in this study.