Investigation on the Efficacy of thiacloprid (SC 480) against Citrus Leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella, in Mazandaran and Khuzestan Provinces

Citrus Leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton is one of the most important citrus pests in nurseries and on newly planted trees (under 5 years) in Iran and worldwide. Therefore, the pest population should be controlled using chemical methods. In the present study, the efficacy of different doses of thiacloprid (Calypso® SC480) and abamectin (Vertimec® EC 1.8%) were tested against citrus leafminer in citrus orchards of Mazandaran and Khuzestan provinces during 20092010. The experiment was performed in a randomized complete block design with six treatments including thiacloprid of various concentrations (0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.5 ml/L), abamectin (0.75ml/L) and Control (water) with four replications. Each experimental unit included three citrus trees (3-5 years old) of Thompson navel variety and ten new shoots (about 5 cm) were selected from each unit, and the active mines (live larvae) on both the surfaces of the leaves were recorded one day before and 3, 7 and 10 days after spraying. In the next step of experiment, another spraying was carried out two weeks after the first spraying, then the sampling was done same as the first application. The results indicat that thiacloprid at the rate of 0.2, 0.3 and 0.5ml/L had the highest efficiency (58.63-100%) and after statistical analysis they were placed in the same group. However, to protect natural enemies and other environmental issues, thiacloprid at the rate of 0.2 ml/L is recommended to be used for controlling citrus leaf miner as an alternative pesticide in the IPM programs of citrus pests in Mazandaran and Khuzestan provinces.