The UF/IFAS Tip of the Week shares strategies for sanitizing for Lebbeck mealybug to control the spread of this pest.
The Lebbeck mealybug is currently found in 14 counties in Florida, according to the UF/IFAS Tip of the Week in a Citrus Industry article. Similarly, it is believed that “pest likely gains some dispersal assistance from wind events, either being blown on infested plant material or as crawlers on wind currents as has been noted for scale crawlers in other systems. In addition, Lebbeck mealybug likely is moving passively on people, animals and equipment to new locations where it then establishes and causes damage.” The article shares tips for sanitizing for Lebbeck mealybug. See the details below.
Sanitizing for Lebbeck Mealybug
According to the Tip of the Week, “lab research shows that two sprays of rubbing alcohol (50, 70 or 90%) will kill most mobile life stages of lebbeck mealybug that can be picked up on clothing or small equipment. For field equipment, colleagues working on a similar mealybug found that pressure washing with soap was able to remove most mealybugs from equipment surfaces.”
Other tips for sanitizing for Lebbeck mealybug from the article include:
- Take personal vehicles through a car wash after driving through infested areas.
- Cleanse equipment at least with a pressure washer (including soap is even better).
- Carry spray bottles of rubbing alcohol to spot-treat hands, clothing and small tools.
- If possible, workers should plan to visit infested sites at the end of the day and wash clothing after working in these areas.
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