Bioecology and biological control of the citrus leaf miner and its relationship with Citrus canker

Abstract

Since Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton, 1856 (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) was reported in Brazil in March 1996, pest problems have increased in the Citrus crop. The pest causes direct damages by totally destroying the sprouts and plays an important role in dissemination of the bacterium of citrus canker Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri, a disease that will probably affect the Brazilian citrus production. This research aims to evaluate the population dynamics of the pest and its native natural enemies as an attempt to correlate it with climatic parameters, plant phenology and application of chemicals, in order to adapt pest control measures for different citrus varieties at different localities. Also, the adaptation of the imported parasitoid Ageniaspis citricola Logvinovskaya, 1983 (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) will be studied in different citrus regions of the state of São Paulo, as well as eventual control. of the citrus leaf miner by this parasitoid. The interspecific competition between imported and native parasitoids occurring in high numbers at certain times of the year will be studied as well. A parallel study will be carried out correlating the pest attack with the citrus canker as well as observing the possibility of the bacterium dissemination by immature and adults of P. citrella and by adults of the imported parasitoid A. citricola. Searches with conventional and molecular techniques and through electronic microscopy will be conducted. Generally speaking, three sub-projects will be developed to study the bioecology of the pest so as to rationalize its control by combining these techniques with the Integrated Pest Management. (AU)