Prospects of biological control of citrus insect pests in Pakistan
Mahmood, R. (CABI Central and West Asia, Rawalpindi (Pakistan)) | Rehman, A. (CABI Central and West Asia, Rawalpindi (Pakistan)) | Ahmad, M. (CABI Central and West Asia, Rawalpindi (Pakistan))
Citrus is attacked by a number of insect pests in Pakistan. The list includes citrus psylla Diaphorina citri; leaf miner Phyllocnistis citrella; white flies Aleurocanthus woglumi Aleurocanthus husaini, Aleurotuberculatus citrifolii, A. jasmine, Amurrayae, Aleurolobus niloticus, Aleurotrachelus sp, Dialeurodes citri and D. elongata; scale insects Aonidiella aurantii, A. citrina, and A. orientalis; mealy bugs Nipaecoccus vastator, Ferrisia virgata, Planococcus citri, Pseudococcus filamenetosus, Spilococcus sp, and Rastrococcus spinosus; coccids Coccus hesperidum and Pulvinaria psidii; margarodids Drosicha stebbingi and Iceryia egyptiaca; fruit flies Bactrocera zonata and B. dorsalis and butter fly Papiliode moleus. At present farmers rely on pesticide sprayings in orchards to control pests and diseases. These practices have not only worsened the pest status overtime but also have created the risks of pesticide residues in produce. If present plant protection practices continue, Pakistani growers may have a setback in exporting their produce. Consumers, especially in the developed world, being health conscious force their governments to protect them from ill effects of pesticides. The need of the time therefore is to shift from the present pesticide based plant protection to integrated pest management based on bio-ecological principles to reduce the use of pesticides in crops particularly in horticulture. In the paper, status of key pests of citrus in Pakistan is reviewed and possibilities of their management by non-chemical measures have been discussed.
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