A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V WXY Z

Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

Citrus psyllid (185)

Photo 1. Eggs of the citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri. The eggs are oval or almond shape.

Photo 2. Nymphs of the citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, showing the white waxy threads that are extruded from their bodies.

Photo 3. Adult citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, showing wing patterns and characteristic feeding position.

Photo 4. Damage to shoots caused by adults and nymphs of the citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri.

Photo 5. Leaves with symptoms of huangbinglong disease; note that most leaves show yellowing on one side of the leaf. The leaf in the top left corner is health for comparison.

Photo 6. Symptoms of huanglongbing disease on citrus leaves and fruits. Notice the uneven colour of the fruit on the right.

Photo 7. Advanced stage of huanglongbing disease, showing yellowing of leaves, lack of fruit, and beginning of dieback.

Summary

Worldwide. On members of the citrus family, especially grapefruit, kumquat, lemons, limes, mandarin, orange, pomelo and tangelo, and the ornamentals, mock orange, and the curry tree. An important pest.
The psyllid: (i) sucks sap damaging shoot tips; (ii) spreads huanglongbing (greening) bacteria; (iii) produces honeydew, which covers leaves and is turned black by sooty moulds.
Eggs laid in shoot tips; nymphs produce thread-like long wax. Adults feed at 40 degrees to surface.
Spread in wind, and in the trade in citrus plants.
Biosecurity: many countries in the Pacific and elsewhere are free from the psyllid.
Cultural control: check plants in nurseries; teach farm staff to identify psyllids, and to report to government authorities if seen.
Chemical control: PDPs: neem or pyrethrum; synthetic pyrethroids or neonicotinoids.

Common Name

Asian (or Asiatic) citrus psyllid

Scientific Name

Diaphorina citri

AUTHOR Grahame Jackson
Photos 1&3 David Hall, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org. Photo 2 Michael Rogers, University of Florida. Photo 4 Michael Rogers, University of Florida. Photo 5 JM Bove, INRA Centre de Recherches de Bordeaux, Bugwood.org. Photo 6 Jeffery W. Lotz, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bugwood.org. Photo 7 HD Catling, Bugwood.org.

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

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