Citrus Insect Pests and Their Non Chemical Control in China

Abstract

Citrus insect pests are important factors affecting production of citrus in China, and cause serious damage to citrus yield and fruit quality. Due to the high fruit quality standards demanded in recent years, citrus pest management has to provide fruit not only with almost no pest damages, but also with minimal pesticide residues. In this report, we review current status of citrus insect pests and their non-chemical control (green control) in China, including agricultural control such as cultural measures, sanitation of winter orchards, trunk paint, pruning, citrus orchards ground cover and so on; biological control, for instance, conservation of natural enemies via orchard management, artificial mass rearing and release of natural enemies, microbial and mineral pesticides. Additionally, application of sex pheromone, food baits, physical and mechanical control techniques such as light traps, yellow sticky trap and fruit bagging have been summarized.