Development and Field Validation of a Beta-cyfluthrin-Based ‘Attract-and-Kill’ Device for Suppression of Asian Citrus Psyllid (Hemiptera: Liviidae) on Residential Citrus

Abstract

An ‘attract-and-kill’ (AK) device was evaluated for suppression of adult Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), on residential citrus. The AK device, made from weather-resistant plasticized PVC, lured D. citri adults by simulating the color of citrus flush and killed them with beta-cyfluthrin. This study evaluated: 1) lethality of AK devices weathered up to 8 wk on residential citrus; 2) survival of psyllids caged with potted plants and AK devices; 3) psyllid suppression achieved by AK devices on individual dooryard trees. AK devices weathered for up to 8 wk remained lethal to psyllids. Greenhouse trials evaluated survival of adult psyllids caged for 4 d with orange jasmine plants that were: 1) treated with an (beta-cyfluthrin-infused) AK device; 2) treated with a blank (no insecticide) AK device; or 3) ‘untreated’ with no AK device. After 4 d, psyllid survival was on average 95% lower among adults exposed to plants with AK devices than adults exposed to untreated plants or plants with blank AK devices. Less than half of the adults exposed to plants with AK devices were alive after 1 d and nearly all were dead after 4 d. Deployment of 20 AK devices per tree provided significant psyllid suppression on infested lemon trees from winter to summer and reduced mean reproduction (cumulative eggs) by 91% and mean attack intensity (cumulative psyllid-days) of adults by 59% and nymphs by 53%. AK devices could be an effective control option for D. citri in urban areas.

UV reflective properties of magnesium oxide increase attraction and probing behavior of Asian citrus psyllids (Hemiptera: Liviidae)

“…Attract-and-kill devices or traps based on psyllid visual and gustatory behavior could be a valuable addition to practices currently available for management of D. citri 48 . Traps combining yellow color (long-range wavelength) with UV (short-range wavelength) reflectance from magnesium oxide should provide an effective combination of visual cues to promote both long-range attraction and sustainted probing behavior by psyllids.…”

A Multimodal Attract-and-Kill Device for the Asian Citrus Psyllid Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae)

“…Recently, Chow et al 2019 [6] reported suppression of D. citri with an 'attract-and-kill' (AK) device that combined visual cues with a pyrethroid toxicant (β-cyfluthrin). Building upon these results, we developed two AK device prototypes that incorporated multiple sensory cues known to affect host finding and probing behaviors of D. citri, viz.…”

Screening commercial entomopathogenic fungi for the management of Diaphorina citri populations in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA

“…Diaphorina citri has only emerged as a pest insect in the USA in the last decade and more immediate tools such as synthetic insecticides were initially sought out to overcome the impending panzootic, especially in commercial citrus (Grafton-Cardwell 2006). More recently, however, attention has turned to smaller, less managed citrus groves and residential citrus (Se ´tamou et al 2020;Chow et al 2019). This has created a niche demographic of individuals who would prefer not to use synthetic insecticide control methods and keep their citrus trees and residences organic, or at the least free of pesticide residues.…”