Effect of Mineral Oil on Host Selection and Control of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psillidae) on Citrus

Abstract

This research was carried out to study the influence of mineral oil on landing and permanence; oviposition; and mortality of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) on citrus plants. For all experiments, mineral oil (Argenfrut®) was sprayed on sweet orange plants at 1% concentration. Landing-permanence and oviposition were assessed using choice and non-choice tests. For the first parameter, 50 adult psyllids were released in the center of the screen house (5mx2.5mx2m) (n = 10) and the number of psyllids/plant at different time intervals were counted. For the oviposition trial, which was conducted under laboratory conditions, 20 psyllids were confined in a cage to oviposit (n = 10) and after three days the number of eggs/plant were counted. The effect of mineral oil on psyllid mortality was assessed by confining 10 adult psyllids per plant (n=4) with fully expanded mature leaves after spray. Assessment was conducted 7 days after confining the insects, by determining the number of live and dead psyllids. The results of this research indicate that mineral oil has repellent effect on adults of D. citri, which prefer oil-free plants to land, remain and oviposit. Moreover, mineral oil was effective on D. citri control (mortality≥80%).