Wednesday, 17 November 2004 - 2:48 PM
1091

Results of a three-year field study to characterize the effect of Surround® particle film treatments on citrus growth, secondary pests, and the Diaprepes root weevil

S. L. Lapointe, slapointe@ushrl.ars.usda.gov, C. L. McKenzie, CMcKenzie@ushrl.ars.usda.gov, and G. McCollum, GMcCollum@ushrl.ars.usda.gov. USDA, ARS, USHRL, 2001 South Rock Road, Fort Pierce, FL

Field trials were established near Ft. Pierce, FL to characterize the response of citrus trees to regular applications of Surround® particle film and the effect of such applications on a major pest, the Diaprepes root weevil. Over the period, trees treated with Surround grew at a consistently faster rate resulting in trees with 5 to 6 times the canopy volume of untreated control trees. Treated trees also produced fruit earlier than untreated trees. Oviposition by the Diaprepes root weevil was reduced but the effect was confounded by the increased growth and size of the treated trees. Nonetheless, the number of eggs produced per weevil was significantly lower on treated trees compared with untreated trees. Resurgence of secondary scale pests such as brown soft scale and citrus snow scale occurred on Surround-treated trees. Data from three field trials will be presented and discussed in the context of appropriate use of particle films in citrus production.


Species 1: Coleoptera Curculionidae Diaprepes abbreviatus (Diaprepes root weevil)
Species 2: Homoptera Coccidae Coccus hesperidium (brown soft scale)
Species 3: Homoptera Coccidae Unaspis citri (Citrus snow scale)
Keywords: kaolin, oviposition

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