CORE: Citrus IPM Program

The goal of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) core program is to conduct research to provide California citrus growers with a ‘state of the art’ IPM program. This core research program currently includes determining economic thresholds, developing sampling methods, applying insecticides in an appropriate manner, maximizing natural enemies and developing alternatives to insecticide treatments such as pheromone disruption. Advances in these methods help Pest Control Advisors and growers more effectively and economically manage pests, reduce unnecessary and ineffective treatments, manage pesticide resistance, reduce nontarget impacts on beneficial and other organisms and increase worker safety. Advances in these methods also minimize pests of export significance. Key citrus pests studied include Asian citrus psyllid, citrus red mite, katydids, citrus thrips, citrus peelminer, citrus leafminer, citricola scale, California red scale, ants, cottony cushion scale, cotton aphid, earwigs, bean thrips, mites of export significance and Fuller rose beetle. New pests and their control methods are incorporated into the IPM program as they arrive in the citrus growing areas of California or become problematic.