Explore why dormant sprays are a good idea for citrus growers looking to knock back Asian citrus psyllid populations in the Florida citrus grove.
“The strong impact of winter suppression of ACP, resulting in reduced populations during the growing season, has been observed in large-scale studies,” shared a UF/IFAS blog that advised Florida citrus growers to utilize dormant sprays targeting Asian citrus psyllids (ACP), the vector that transmits citrus greening, or HLB. It is “a foliar application of an insecticide targeting the overwintering adult ACPs,” and there are many reasons by spraying during the dormant winter months is a good idea. See the details below.
The Benefits of Dormant Sprays
There are a number of reasons why dormant sprays make good sense. The article shared these:
Beneficial insect numbers are low. The article shared that “In winter, due to the scarcity of young shoots, the ability of the ACP to reproduce and increase its population is reduced. Therefore, eggs and nymphs, as well as their natural enemies such as predators and parasitoids, are rare or absent from citrus orchards.”
ACP numbers are low. The article maintained that “low numbers of adult ACPs survive in the orchards, waiting for spring growth to start reproducing. This situation presents the weakest link in ACP biology in relation to citrus phenology and an opportunity for a preemptive approach to its management.” It also advised that “The female ACP has a high reproductive rate, so suppression before spring growth is critical.”
The sprays are not complex. The article shared that “Dormant sprays may use broad-spectrum insecticides, such as pyrethroids or organophosphates, to achieve significant ACP knockdown,” because there are no beneficial insects or fruit present to worry about.
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