11/27/2023 0 Comments Grapefruit tree leaves curlingReduce the new growth flushes in late summer and autumn, the pest’s peak periods, by not overfertilizing, or overwatering in summer and autumn, use just enough fertilizer and water to support normal growth, but no more than that.Fertilise in late winter to promote strong spring growth, as spring is a time when citrus leafminer is absent or in extremely low numbers.Cultural controls – disrupting the pest’s environmentĬitrus leafminer moths only attack new growth flushes of citrus trees in summer and autumn, once the leaves harden off the pest can’t mine into the leaves, so there are a few ways we can change conditions so that they’re not as favourable to the pest. If we take an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to controlling citrus leafminer, we are able to implement multiple pest control strategies simultaneously to deal with the problem more effectively. It is unlikely that even heavy leafminer infestations will kill a young citrus tree, but they will certainly reduce its vigour and yields. Since they produce more new growth, young citrus trees can support greater pest populations, which can affect new foliage and therefore reduce overall growth. Where citrus leafminer is of great concern is to young citrus trees and potted citrus, which do not have extensive mature foliage, and produce more new growth each year as they mature and grow to size. The only concern is that the tunnelling of the leaves can act as an entry point for pathogens and diseases. On a mature citrus tree, which are over four years old, damage to new growth does not have a significant impact as these trees have a dense canopy with a lot of tough older leaves to sustain them, so there is negligible impact tree growth and fruit yields. The characteristic damage caused by citrus leafminer is the twisting and curling of young new leaves with the tell-tale silvery trails running through the leaf. At other times, such as in late autumn, winter and spring, the pest’s life cycle can take two or three times longer. The entire life cycle of the citrus leafminer moth takes approximately two to three weeks to complete under optimum summer and autumn conditions. It pupates in the fold on the leaf edge, and its pupal stage lasts for 6 days, after which it hatches and emerges as an adult. It then tunnels to the edge of the leaf, causing the leaf edge to fold over for protection. The citrus leafminer larvae, which is flat, yellow in colour and around 3mm long, stays in the same leaf its entire life, feeding inside the leaf for 5-6 days. The leafminer larvae hatch from the eggs after 2-10 days and start tunnelling into the immature leaves and feeding, leaving silvery trails and causing the leaves to twist and curl. They prefer to lay their eggs on small, newly emerged leaves that are around 10-20mm long, and they lay their eggs under the leaves. They lay eggs on flushes of new growth during summer and autumn. The adult female moths start laying eggs around 24 hours after mating, can lay up to 20 eggs per night, and more than 50 eggs during their entire life. This pest is a small silvery-white nocturnal moth which is only about 2mm long with a 4.5mm wingspan. It attacks all citrus, including lemons, limes, oranges, mandarins and native finger limes. Citrus leafminer ( Phyllocnistis citrella) is a pest on both native and cultivated citrus trees.
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