See the recommendations for pest management in the citrus grove in fall, a time when insect and mite activity can increase.
In Florida, “In the hot, dry end of summer and early fall, mite populations often soar, requiring management to prevent excessive damage to fruit,” according to a UF/IFAS Tip of the Week article. In early fall, hot, dry temperatures are desirable for mites, fall flushes invite in Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) and citrus leafminers (CLM); in late fall, the temperature and humidity drop into the desirable range for the reproduction of Lebbeck mealybugs, and hurricanes can spread the juvenile forms of many pests. See the recommendations for fall pest management in the citrus grove from the article and beyond.
Pest Management in the Citrus Grove
Mites. The article maintains that “In the hot, dry end of summer and early fall, mite populations often soar, requiring management to prevent excessive damage to fruit.” The article recommends utilizing the “The Florida Citrus Production Guide chapter on Mites for management recommendations,” which states that “Selection of a miticide should be based on the target pests to be controlled, avoiding risks of phytotoxicity, products that will be tank-mixed, the time of year, treatment-to-harvest interval, and prior use of a product.”
Additionally, it adds that “With the exception of petroleum oil, no miticide should be applied more than once per year to avoid development of resistance.” There are products that also target ACPs and CLMs, such as “diflubenzuron (Micromite 80 WGS) or spirotetramat (Movento).”
Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) and citrus leafminer (CLM). The article again recommends the The Florida Citrus Production Guide, advising that “growers can opt for a chemistry with efficacy on both targets by using recommendations for both ACP and CLM from the production guide.”
Lebbeck mealybug. These “populations generally see a resurgence during the fall as the temperature and humidity during this period fall into the optimal range for reproduction and juvenile survival.” It also references a 2024 Tip of the Week article, which states that “Population development picks up again in October, and crawlers can be suppressed with most contact chemistries.”
Juveniles can also be transplanted by hurricanes, and the article adds that “if your grove has had a history of lebbeck mealybug infestations, planning a post-storm management spray can help in knocking back the population.”
Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions -or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.