The Asian citrus psyllid has devastated our nation’s citrus crops and there are no known pesticides to solve this problem. Fortunately, the researchers at UC Riverside are hard at work and have come up with another possible solution for this problem.
Two years ago, a tiny wasp from Pakistan, Tamarixia rediata, was released in Southern California to attack the Asian citrus psyllid. These wasps will now have a cousin to help in the effort.
About 300 Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis wasps, also collected from Pakistan, will be released in one of UC Riverside’s research groves.
In 2012, Mark Hoddle, a biological control expert with UCR’s Center for Invasive Species Research, began releasing the first batch of wasps into groves in Southern California. This wasp lays its eggs on the larvae of the psyllid and when they hatch, they burrow into the animal and eat out its insides.
The new wasp, being released now, will work differently. This female wasp will inject its eggs into the larvae and when they hatch, they consume the animal from the inside out.
Extensive testing of both wasp species was conducted while in quarantine to ensure they wouldn’t have a negative impact on other parts of the food chain. The Diaphorencyrtus was in quarantine for three years.
Researchers do not see either of these wasps as a magic bullet but they do hope that they will help keep the Asian citrus psyllids from over-running citrus plants.
The Tamarixia has shown promise. Mark Hoddle said, “The California Department of Food and Agriculture has released over 800,000 Tamarixia. It looks like it’s established itself. It Blew up in Pauma Valley and really decimated the psyllid population there.”
Mark Hoddle went on to say he will be pleased to see the parasite knock down 30 percent of the psyllid population. He is betting the new wasp will take care of another 20 percent.
Florida’s $9 billion citrus industry has been impacted the most by the psyllid and has seen a 41 percent drop in citrus production. The psyllids are now seriously threatening California’s $2 billion citrus industry and we really appreciate all of the hard work that our researchers at UC Riverside are doing for all of us.
