Be in control of mealybugs in citrus with Citripar and Cryptobug

A World Citrus Organisation (WCO) report forecasts that global citrus production will amount to 103.7 million tons in the year 2023/2024. As a loved crop all over the world, citrus growers face many pest challenges to protect their harvests. One of these challenges is mealybugs.

The dangers of mealybug damage

Mealybugs pose significant challenges in citrus cultivation, primarily due to their ability to reproduce rapidly and their resilience against various control measures. These sap-sucking pests feed on the phloem of citrus plants, leading to stunted growth, yellowing leaves, and reduced fruit quality. In addition to direct damage, mealybugs excrete honeydew, which encourages the growth of sooty mold, further impairing photosynthesis and aesthetic value. Their presence can also attract ants, which protect mealybugs from natural predators, complicating management efforts.

Effective mealybug control

A biological control agent that has proven very effective in the fight against mealybugs is Koppert’s Citripar (Anagyrus vladimiri). The adult female parasitic wasps parasitize the mealybugs, with preferred hosts stages being third instar, but females will also readily attack second and fourth instars of female citrus mealybugs (Planococcus citri). Pupae develop in the mummified skin of the host and look like swollen mealybug larvae. Empty pupae have an irregular exit hole at the posterior end of the mummy after the parasitic wasps emerge. Working alongside Citripar, is the predatory beetle Cryptobug (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri) that is also a natural enemy that targets all stages of mealybugs, by consuming the mealybug entirely.

80% decrease with Citripar 

Recent trials highlight effectiveness of Citripar, especially when compared to untreated citrus. Trials showed the numbers of Planococcus citri per twig were significantly higher in untreated citrus compared to those recorded in citrus where Citripar (Anagyrus vladimiri) was released. Anagyryus also has the ability to parasitize mealybugs at places where chemicals don’t work, for example under the calyx or in the navels. The result observed ultimately showed a more than 80% decrease in mealybugs per twig where Citripar was used.

Cryptobug-L for effective hotspot treatment

Cryptobug-L, the larval stage of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, is specifically effective for hotspot treatment. The experience of growers in Spain, France, Italy and South Africa have proven Cryptobug-L a valuable key biocontrol agent, working complementary to Citripar, within an IPM strategy for mealybugs in citrus.

Healthier citrus yields due to a significant reduction in mealybug damage, that is what it means to be in control with Koppert.