10/24/2018 / By Edsel Cook
In response to the devastating huanglongbing disease sweeping through California’s citrus orchards, researchers are testing a biological control program. They are using two wasps from Asia that are natural enemies of the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri), an invasive species of insect that spreads the bacteria responsible for the disease.
The study was supported by the University of California Riverside. Its results were published in the journal California Agriculture.
The researchers surmise that this biological approach to curbing Asian citrus psyllid populations could supplement other means of controlling the spread of huanglongbing.
Browse the full version of the study at this site. You can get more stories about natural means of pest control at Ecology.news.
Journal Reference:
Milosavljevi? I, Schall K, Hoddle C, Morgan D, Hoddle M. BIOCONTROL PROGRAM TARGETS ASIAN CITRUS PSYLLID IN CALIFORNIAS URBAN AREAS. California Agriculture. 13 September 2017;71(3):169–177. DOI: 10.3733/ca.2017a0027.
Tagged Under: Asian citrus psyllid, beneficial insects, citrus, discoveries, insects, invasive species, natural pest control, pests, wasps