Which bug is the biggest agricultural pest in Florida?

Right now it’s probably the Asian citrus psyllid, a small flying insect that’s the vector of the presumptive cause of citrus greening disease, the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. The disease cost Florida citrus growers $4.5 billion in lost revenues between 2006 and 2011, causing the loss of more than 8,200 jobs.

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Figure 1. Adult Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama.

Photograph by Douglas L. Caldwell, University of Florida.

Read more about the Asian citrus psyllid.

UF/IFAS is doing some great research on combating the Asian citrus psyllid, much of which takes place at the Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred.

 

For more BugWeek information and activities, visit the website.

If you have questions that weren’t answered by the FAQ, contact us or contact your local Extension office.

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Posted: May 6, 2014


Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: BugWeek, Citrus, FAQ, Insects, Pest


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