Advances in Tamarixia radiata mas rearing to control the HLB vector, Diaphorina citri

The psyllid is under control in commercial groves, but the “greening” (Huanglongbing – HLB) is still occurring and around 38 million citrus trees have been eradicated since the disease was recorded in Brazil in 2004. No sprayed, organic areas, abandoned and backyard groves, as well as orange jasmine are sources of Liberibacter – infected psyllids, as they are able to disperse as far as 1.5 to 2.0 km. We are mass rearing and releasing Tamarixia radiata (400 individuals per ha) in the surroundings of citrus groves areas (the areas are around 12,000 ha) in the state of São Paulo in order to reduce Diaphorina citri contamination and therefore avoid HLB transmission. The results are very promising and the parasitization by T. radiata release increased from 2.5 to 10.8 times in those areas and the psyllid nymph reduction ranges from 49.5% to 93.0% depending on climatic factors. Now, we have 6 biofactories producing 100,000 parasitoids per month/each and the private companies are building another one.