Insect Pest of Citrus in Hot Arid Region

Citrus leaf miner (Phyllocristis citrella)

• It is widely distributed from Australia to Africa. It is found in all the states where Citrus spp. is grown.

Host Range

• It attacks all species of citrus but prefers sweet oranges. It also infests Pongamia, jasmine etc. The pest is active all-round the year, except during severe winter (December — February).

Nature of damage

• The minute caterpillars mine into the leaf tissues of tender leaves and feed on them leaving the outer tissue intact.
• Making silvery appearance presence on the lower surface of leaves

• Leaves become crinkled with whitish lines.
• Incase of severe infestation leaves turn pale, curl badly and dry off.

Description

• Adult is a silvery white small moth with brown striped forewings having a prominent black spot near the tip and white hindwings.
• Both pairs of wings are fringed with hairs.

• The adult moth measures 6 mm in wing span.
• On hatching, the caterpillar enters tissue and starts mining between the two Layers it is thin and yellowish green in colour.
• This results in V shape curling and cupping of leaves.
• Defoliation and death of young shoot in severe infestation and the fruits turning undersized and juice content reduced.

Description

• Adults are reddish with jumping legs.
• Nymphs are flattish, oval in shape and light orange colour.

• Adult is small, brown in colour and brown colour band present on the half of fore wing
• Eggs are laid in tender shoots and anchored in the tissues by means of short stalks.
• There are five nymphal instars and the nymphal period is 9-38 days.
• Adult life span is 135 days for males and 145 days for females and has 16 generations per year.

Source: Insect Pest of Arid Fruit Crops

IPM for Citrus

To know the IPM practices for Citrus, click here.