Citrus psylla
- 2. Ehtisham Ali Hussain BAGF15E258 University College Of Agriculture, University Of Sargodha, Sargodha
- 4. Common name: Asian citrus psyllid Techanical name: Diaphorina citri
- 5. Distribution: Afghanistan China Hong kong India Indonesia Malaysia Nepal Pakistan Mexico
- 6. Identification: Eggs Female lay bright yellow orange, almond shaped eggs on the tips of growing shoots. The number of laying eggs depends upon host plant .The eggs hatch in about 4 days. Nymph The nymph are flat, louse like and orange yellow , congregates in large numbers on the young leaves and the buds. Adults Adults are brownish. Adults live for 1 to 2 months. Adult is 3mm long.
- 8. Life cycle: The adults lay 500 almond _shape ,orange and stalked eggs on tender leaves and shoots of citrus trees The eggs are laid either singly or in groups which hatch in one week in the summer There are 5 nymph stages and the development is completed in 2 weeks Full grown nymphs migrate to the lower surface of the leaves and convert into adults There are 8_9 overlapping generation in a year
- 10. Eggs Adult lay 500 almond shape eggs nymph Hatch in 1 week 8_9 gen. per year 5 nymphal stages adult Development complete in 2 weeks Full grown nymph migrate. Convert into adult
- 11. Damage: With the help of their sharp piercing sucking mouthpart they suck the cell sap. The vitality of the plants deteriorates and their young leaves and twigs stop growing further. The leaf buds flower buds and the leaves may wilt and die. Moreover the nymph secrete drops of a sweet thick fluid on which a black fungus develops adversely affecting photosynthesis. This insect is also responsible for spreading the greening virus. If the pest is not checked in time the entire orchard may be lost with in one or two year of continuous damage,
- 13. Control: Biological Lady bird beetles and lace wings are important natural enemies of citrus psylla. Chemical Spray trees with imidacloprid SL 40ml per 100 L of water Or endosulfan EC 200ml per 100 l of water Cultural control Hand picking