Integrated pest management of citrus
Cultural
- Pruning and destruction of severely affected twigs with scales and borer there by preventing build up of population in orchard during Oct to Dec
- Collection and destruction of fallen fruits minimizes the infestation of fruit fly
- Removal of weeds, like Cocculus villosus , C. pendules and C. hirsutum an alternate host of fruit sucking moth helps in avoiding the damage caused by fruit sucking moths to some extent
Chemical
- The pest complex infestation can be controlled by spraying with methyl demeton (0.03%) at 10 days intervals
- Mites can be controlled by spraying with thiodemeton (0.05%) or dicofol (0.05%) at 10 days intervals
- Injection of petrol or dichlorovos or putting Aluminium phosphide tablets into the bored holes and plugging them with mud is effective in controlling the borer
- Fruit fly can be kept under check by bait (Jaggery water solution) spraying with malathion or trichlorophon (1ml/lit of water)
Biological
- Release of coccinellid predator like Crytolaemus montrouzieri has given promising results in minimizing the mealy bug infestation.