Bayer/Fundecitrus releases 1.4 million wasps to control psyllid

The Biological Control Lab of the Brazilian Fund for Citrus Defense (Fundecitrus), which produces Tamarixia radiata, a natural enemy of the psyllid, has produced 1.7 million small wasps since its inauguration in March 2015. Of this, some 1.4 million of Tamarixia were released in 944 properties covering 4,914.2 hectares.

 

The Fundecitrus lab is maintained by Bayer CropScience, as part of the partnership with Citrus Unidos, signed in 2013. The small wasps were released based on the information provided by the Phytosanitary Alert System of Fundecitrus, which shows locations with high incidence of the psyllids, as well as those places where insect control has not been carried out, such as abandoned orchards, farm condominiums, backyards, besides urban areas having citrus and myrtle.

 

“Tamarixia radiata is one of the tools that can help reduce the population of psyllid in areas without combat, and as it is a biological control method, it does not leave residue in the environment,” Fundecitrus biologist Ana Carolina Pires Veiga, a manager in the biofactory, remarked.

 

The procedure for the creation of small wasps was developed by the staff of Professor José Roberto Postali Parra at the Agriculture School Luiz at the University of São Paulo with the support of Fundecitrus.