Florida Entomologist (2022) 105, 250-254

Orquídea Pérez-González, Ricardo Gomez-Flores and Patricia Tamez-Guerra (2022)
Biocontrol of citrus blackfly, Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), by spraying Aschersonia sp. conidia collected from infected nymphs in Quintana Roo, Mexico
Florida Entomologist 105 (3), 250-254
Abstract: Among the citrus production industry, Mexico represents the fifth largest producer worldwide as of 1 Mar 2022 data (Producción de cítricos en México, Biblioteca de Publicaciones Oficiales del Gobierno de la República, Gobierno). Among insect pests affecting citrus orchards, the citrus blackfly Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) causes great economic losses to this industry. Biological control with parasitoids is used principally to manage this pest. In this study, we evaluated a simple and inexpensive technique for citrus blackfly biocontrol in citrus orchards. Conidia from the entomopathogenic fungus Aschersonia sp. were collected from citrus leaves with Aschersonia sp. infecting citrus blackfly nymphs in 1 locality in Quintana Roo State, Mexico. Conidia were suspended with vigorous shaking in a 0.1% Tween solution to achieve a concentration of about 1.0 × 10⁸ conidia per mL and sprayed on citrus blackfly uninfected nymphs in 1 selected (high citrus blackfly population) Quintana Roo locality when relative humidity was about 95%. After about 55 d, fungus had killed the treated nymphs, and had infected and killed other citrus blackflies causing an epizootic in the application area. This technique was scaled up by citrus producers to 30 ha with similar results. During 2019, relative humidity was lower than 60%, and citrus blackfly-uninfected or Aschersonia sp.-infected nymphs were not detected. During 2020, the relative humidity was higher than 80% and we did not detect Aschersonia sp. Infected- or uninfected-citrus blackfly nymphs in the previously treated area. In conclusion, collection and application of Aschersonia sp. conidia on uninfected citrus blackfly nymphs may result in an epizootic, if relative humidity is 80% or higher, and Aschersonia sp. remains and disseminates along with this insect pest.
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Database assignments for author(s): Patricia Tamez-Guerra

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
application technology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aleurocanthus woglumi	Citrus (genus)	Mexico