imidacloprid/Citrus Greening

[Calusa]

I may be beating a dead horse here, but my search on the forum didn't produce anything specifically related to a few questions.

1. Using a systemic such as imidacloprid, if the psyllid larvae has to chew into the foliage, thereby infecting the tree with HLB, what is the point in using it?

2. Does the psyllid larvae bore into tender new growth only? So when the new growth has hardened the larvae will not bore?

3. If one or a few larvae bore into foliage does that automatically infect the tree, or does it take an infestation to cause HLB?

4. Has anyone here experienced success using imidacloprid to keep HLB at bay?

Thanks

[pagnr]

Yes it seems that this is one strategy for preventing or delaying HLB in young trees / new plantations.
That said, it doesn't seem to be enough, as HLB is still spreading, and other research continues in completely different paths
ie Greening resistant varieties and Finger Lime peptide sprays, also other treatments.
https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/media/crecifasufledu/extension/extension-publications/2012/Young-trees-protection.pdf

[Calusa]

Yes it seems that this is one strategy for preventing or delaying HLB in young trees / new plantations.
That said, it doesn't seem to be enough, as HLB is still spreading, and other research continues in completely different paths
ie Greening resistant varieties and Finger Lime peptide sprays, also other treatments.
https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/media/crecifasufledu/extension/extension-publications/2012/Young-trees-protection.pdf

Thanks for the link to that IFAS article - very helpful!

Even though it's from 2012 it appears to still be relevant. I found the following information in the article that helps greatly in answering most of my questions above:

Soil applications of neonicotinoids
do not leave residues on the leaf
surface for an insect to encounter;
therefore, the psyllid must insert its
mouthparts into the plant and begin feeding in order to contact the
insecticide. Despite the initiation of
feeding behavior, very shortly after
psyllids insert their mouthparts into
the plant, they get a “taste” of the
insecticide and quickly withdraw
their mouthparts. The amount of time
spent with their mouthparts in the
soil-applied, systemic, neonicotinoid treated plant is not long enough to
make contact with the phloem system
of the plant, which usually requires
a minimum of one hour of sustained
feeding. As a result, the ability of
psyllids to successfully infect a
healthy citrus plant treated with a
soil-applied neonicotinoid is greatly
reduced if not totally prevented.

Just to clarify, here we are not talking
about the effectiveness of these products to control psyllids (cause death),
but instead are looking at the ability of these insecticide applications
to disrupt psyllid feeding behavior
quickly enough so that psyllids are
not able to reach the phloem and
transmit the HLB pathogen prior to
the insecticide residue causing death
of the psyllid.

[Galatians522]

Yes it seems that this is one strategy for preventing or delaying HLB in young trees / new plantations.
That said, it doesn't seem to be enough, as HLB is still spreading, and other research continues in completely different paths
ie Greening resistant varieties and Finger Lime peptide sprays, also other treatments.
https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/media/crecifasufledu/extension/extension-publications/2012/Young-trees-protection.pdf

Thanks for the link to that IFAS article - very helpful!

Even though it's from 2012 it appears to still be relevant. I found the following information in the article that helps greatly in answering most of my questions above:

Soil applications of neonicotinoids
do not leave residues on the leaf
surface for an insect to encounter;
therefore, the psyllid must insert its
mouthparts into the plant and begin feeding in order to contact the
insecticide. Despite the initiation of
feeding behavior, very shortly after
psyllids insert their mouthparts into
the plant, they get a “taste” of the
insecticide and quickly withdraw
their mouthparts. The amount of time
spent with their mouthparts in the
soil-applied, systemic, neonicotinoid treated plant is not long enough to
make contact with the phloem system
of the plant, which usually requires
a minimum of one hour of sustained
feeding. As a result, the ability of
psyllids to successfully infect a
healthy citrus plant treated with a
soil-applied neonicotinoid is greatly
reduced if not totally prevented.

Just to clarify, here we are not talking
about the effectiveness of these products to control psyllids (cause death),
but instead are looking at the ability of these insecticide applications
to disrupt psyllid feeding behavior
quickly enough so that psyllids are
not able to reach the phloem and
transmit the HLB pathogen prior to
the insecticide residue causing death
of the psyllid.

Thanks for posting, I didn't know that.

[EricSC]

A idea to protect citrus from greening which might be only suitable for structure (such as greenhouse) protected citrus tree:

Bifenthrin can be effective for 12 months or more, so it can be applied to the young citrus to provide a long and effective protection.    The advantage is that it is not toxic to humans or animals once it is dried.  It is not recommended for fruit bearing trees.  The downside is that any insects cruising around in the structure will be eliminated.

I guess it can also be used in young tree in open space but many other insects will be killed.