How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

DESCRIPTION OF THE PEST

Citrus peelminer is a pest of susceptible citrus varieties in the Coachella and San Joaquin valleys. The San Joaquin Valley strain is genetically related to a strain from Mexico and probably arrived on infested fruit during 1998-99. Adult moths deposit eggs on stems and fruit of citrus and neighboring crops. A small larva hatches from the egg and begins feeding on the rind of the fruit just below the egg shell. As the larva grows, it molts four to seven times and mines the stem or fruit creating a winding tunnel that grows wider as the larva gets larger. Just before pupation, the larva changes to a pink form with spinning mouthparts. The pink stage larva leaves the mine and spins a flat cocoon on a twig, leaf, or fruit. It decorates the cocoon with silk balls and then pupates. There is no overwintering stage; the insect continues development throughout the year, but the length of a generation is shorter during warm temperatures. There are 6-8 generations a year occurring at about monthly intervals from May to November.

The citrus leafminer, a small moth that attacks citrus, differs from citrus peelminer because its larval stages leave a frass trail in the mine and it attacks only new flush leaves rather than stems and fruit. The leafminer pupa is found in the curled edge of a leaf and lacks the decorative balls that the peelminer creates.

DAMAGE

Larvae form mines on the surface of the fruit. Grapefruit, pummelo, and certain smooth-skinned navel varieties (Fukumoto, Atwood, TI) are most susceptible to damage, but the peelminer can attack any variety. Susceptible varieties can suffer 5-80% fruit damage, while nonsusceptible varieties rarely experience more than 3% damaged fruit. Under heavy infestations, peelminers will mine the leaves, but this is rare. Damage to fruit is cosmetic but one mine can render it unacceptable for fresh market. This pest can attack many different crops: grapes, cotton, beans, stone fruits, nuts, ornamentals (willows and oleander), various vegetables, and weeds. Susceptible varieties of citrus are at higher risk for damage if located next to crops where peelminer populations build up (cotton and beans). Because citrus peelminer is usually not an economic problem in the neighboring crops, it is rarely controlled in those crops. When those crops reach maturity and begin to dry, the moths emerge and move into neighboring citrus.

MANAGEMENT

Future management of this pest will likely rely primarily on biological control and cultural practices unless an effective pesticide can be found. Pesticides are only somewhat effective against peelminer because of the difficulty in obtaining good spray coverage of the fruit and penetration of the pesticides into the mines. The moths prefer to lay eggs on fruit that is low and on the inside of the tree, which is the hardest fruit to reach with sprays.

Biological Control
There are many native parasites that attack peelminer to a limited extent. One native eulophid wasp, Cirrospilus coachellae, can control peelminer populations in the Coachella Valley and research is currently in progress to determine if it can overwinter and provide control in the San Joaquin Valley. Parasites pupate in the mine and can be seen through the epidermis as small, black pupae surrounded by black dots (fecal material). Evidence of past parasite activity are exit holes near the remains of pupae. Long-term control of this pest will likely be biological. The recent arrival of citrus leafminer to California may assist with biological control of peelminer because they share many of the same natural enemies.

Cultural Control
Avoid planting susceptible citrus varieties such as Fukumoto oranges, grapefruit, and pummelos. Locate plantings of these susceptible varieties away from neighboring crops such as cotton and grapes that could be a source of peelminer. If cotton is grown next to a susceptible citrus variety, then Bt cotton should be used or an insecticide can be mixed with the defoliant to reduce the number of moths emerging from the cotton.

Treatment Decisions
While citrus peelminer is sensitive to a number of different insecticides, it is difficult to control with insecticides because it attacks the inside low fruit (difficult to reach with sprays), the larval stage is protected by the mine, and it has 6 to 8 generations. Development of a pheromone trap is underway to improve treatment timing.

Studies have shown that the lower developmental threshold of citrus peelminer is 55°F. The biofix of first flight in noncitrus host crops usually occurs between the 3rd week of March and early April. From that point on, every 580 degree-days, the peelminer completes a generation. There are 7 potential flights in the San Joaquin Valley and 9 potential flights in the Coachella Valley. Hot summer temperatures tend to stop development of the peelminer. The first two flights of citrus peelminer attack noncitrus hosts such as the stems of walnuts, willows, oleander, and various weeds. The third flight of moths finds the pummelo and grapefruit varieties suitable for attack and the 4th or 5th flight begins to attack susceptible navel orange varieties. A treatment strategy is to use degree-days to estimate the timing of the flights that will attack a citrus variety and apply three treatments of insecticides at monthly intervals to control the first three flights that could potentially deposit eggs on citrus fruit. For example, pummelo and grapefruit growers would treat flights 3, 4, and 5, while navel growers would treat flights 5, 6, and 7.

Diflubenzuron (Micromite) is effective primarily against the egg stage; time sprays of this insecticide to peaks in moth flights. Multiple applications of one-third or one-half rates of diflubenzuron are more effective than a single high rate. Addition of an adulticide such as chlorpyrifos or a pyrethroid (fenpropathrin-Danitol or cyfluthrin-Baythroid) to the diflubenzuron treatment helps somewhat. However, these insecticides are fairly broad spectrum and may cause flare ups of other citrus pests because they destroy natural enemies.

Common name		Amount to Use	R.E.I.+	P.H.I.+
(trade name)		(type of coverage)**	(hours)	(days)
The following materials are listed in order of usefulness in an IPM program, taking into account efficacy and impact on natural enemies and honey bees. When choosing a pesticide, also consider information relating to environmental impact. Not all registered pesticides are listed. Always read label of product being used.
A.	DIFLUBENZURON*
	(Micromite) 80 WGS	2–6.25 oz/acre (OC)	12	21
	RANGE OF ACTIVITY: Pests: intermediate (katydids, peelminer, leafminer, grasshoppers); Natural enemies: predatory beetles
	PERSISTENCE: Pests: intermediate; Natural enemies: intermediate
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 15
	COMMENTS: Can be used during bloom. Timing treatments for peaks in moth flights is important because it only kills the egg stage of the peelminer. There is a limit of 6.4 oz per 90-day period or 18.75 oz per year. Do not apply within 25 feet of bodies of water. Use allowed under a FIFRA 2(ee) recommendation.
B.	DIFLUBENZURON*
	(Micromite 80 WG)	2–6.25 oz/acre (OC)	12	21
	RANGE OF ACTIVITY: Pests: intermediate (katydids, peelminer, leafminer, grasshoppers); Natural enemies: predatory beetles
	PERSISTENCE: Pests: intermediate; Natural enemies: intermediate
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 15
	COMMENTS: Can be used during bloom. Timing treatments for peaks in moth flights is important because it only kills the egg stage of the peelminer. There is a limit of 6.4 oz per 90 day period or 18.75 oz per year. Do not apply within 25 feet of bodies of water. Use allowed under a FIFRA 2(ee) recommendation.
	. . . PLUS . . .
	CHLORPYRIFOS*
	(Lorsban) 4E	2 pt/acre (OC)	5 days	21
	RANGE OF ACTIVITY: Pests: broad (many insects); Natural enemies: most
	PERSISTENCE: Pests: short (low rates), intermediate (high rates); Natural enemies: short (low rates), intermediate (high rates)
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 1B
	COMMENTS: For use on all varieties. Do not apply more than twice/fruit year or make applications less than 30 days apart. During the bloom period, apply from 1 hour after sunset until 2 hours before sunrise.
	. . . or . . .
	FENPROPATHRIN*
	(Danitol) 2.4 EC	21.33 fl oz/acre (OC)	24	1
	RANGE OF ACTIVITY: Pests: broad (many insects and mites); Natural enemies: most
	PERSISTENCE: Pests: intermediate; Natural enemies: long
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 3A
	COMMENTS: Apply in 50–200 gal water/acre. Use only on citrus trees 3 years or older. To reduce the potential for resistance, make a total of only one pyrethroid application (for all pest species) per year or if feasible, only every 2 to 3 years. Do not apply in the vicinity of aquatic areas and do not apply more than 21.33 fl oz/acre/year.
	. . . or . . .
	CYFLUTHRIN*
	(Baythroid) 2	6.4 fl oz/acre (OC)	12	0
	RANGE OF ACTIVITY: Pests: broad (many insects); Natural enemies: most
	PERSISTENCE: Pests: intermediate; Natural enemies: intermediate (low rates), long (high rates)
	RESISTANCE: In some citrus thrips populations in the San Joaquin Valley
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 3A
	COMMENTS: Only a single application may be made per crop season. To reduce the potential for resistance, make a total of only one pyrethroid application (for all pest species) per year or, if feasible, only every 2 to 3 years. Do not apply within 25 feet of lakes, reservoirs, rivers, permanent streams, marshes, or natural ponds, estuaries, and commercial fish farm ponds.
**	OC - Outside coverage uses 100-250 gal water/acre.
+	Restricted entry interval (R.E.I.) is the number of hours (unless otherwise noted) from treatment until the treated area can be safely entered without protective clothing. Preharvest interval (P.H.I.) is the number of days from treatment to harvest. In some cases the REI exceeds the PHI. The longer of two intervals is the minimum time that must elapse before harvest.
*	Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use.
1	Rotate chemicals with a different mode-of-action Group number, and do not use products with the same mode-of-action Group number more than twice per season to help prevent the development of resistance. For example, the organophosphates have a Group number of 1B; chemicals with a 1B Group number should be alternated with chemicals that have a Group number other than 1B. Mode of action Group numbers are assigned by IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee). For additional information, see their Web site at http://www.irac-online.org/.

IMPORTANT LINKS

• Photos of citrus peelminer, citrus leafminer, and their damage

PUBLICATION

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Citrus
UC ANR Publication 3441
Insects, Mites, and Snails
E. E. Grafton-Cardwell, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
J. G. Morse, Entomology, UC Riverside
N. V. O‘Connell, UC Cooperative Extension, Tulare County
P. A. Phillips, UC IPM Program, UC Cooperative Extension, Ventura County
C. E. Kallsen, UC Cooperative Extension, Kern County
D. R. Haviland, UC Cooperative Extension, Kern County
Acknowledgments for contributions to Insect, Mites, and Snails:
J. Barcinas, E. S. I., Corona, CA
R. Dunn, Badger Farming County, Exeter, CA
J. Gorden, Pest Management Associates, Exeter, CA
H. Griffiths, E. S. I., Corona, CA
D. Machlitt, Consulting Entomology Services, Moorpark, CA
C. Musgrove, retired entomologist, Riverside, CA
K. Olsen, S & J Ranch, Pinedale, CA
T. Roberts, E. S. I., Corona, CA
J. Stewart, Pest Management Associates, Exeter, CA
P. Washburn, Washburn & Sons Citrus Pest Control, Riverside, CA
K. Godfrey, USDA Biological Control, Sacramento
D. Headrick, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
B. Faber, UC Cooperative Extension, Ventura County
J. Kabashima, UC Cooperative Extension, South Coast Research and Extension Center

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