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Monitor for Citrus Mealybug with Suterra's CMB Lures

Suterra Oct 22, 2021 4:12:15 PM

Suterra has recently released a lure to aid in monitoring for citrus mealybug, a pest of citrus crops in the United States and worldwide. Learn how and why you should monitor for this damaging pest in this article.

 

CITRUS MEALYBUG DAMAGES PLANTS

Citrus mealybug (CMB) is the most common mealybug species found in commercial citrus in California. The pest causes damage by feeding on the plant directly as well as excreting honeydew, which fosters development of sooty mold. CMB feeding can result in cosmetic damage, reduced crop yields from fruit drop, and overall decline in plant health.

Mealybugs are sexually dimorphic. Males are smaller, short-lived and have wings, while females live longer and have a distinct oval shape and waxy appearance. CMB infestations can be difficult to detect by visual scouting as the eggs, nymphs, and adult females are often found in crevices and between fruit clusters. Monitoring for CMB adult males using pheromone lures in sticky traps can greatly help growers and crop consultants detect infestations early and implement management strategies where needed.

 

USING CMB LURE TO MONITOR PESTS

Suterra’s CMB lure works by mimicking the natural sex pheromone created by female citrus mealybugs to attract males. If citrus mealybugs are present, the lure will attract males to a sticky trap where they can be quantified for monitoring and management purposes.

For over 30 years, Suterra has excelled at creating high-quality reliable pheromone products for a variety of pests. The pheromones for Suterra’s CMB lures are all produced in-house and mimic the natural pheromones produced by female mealybugs, ensuring that the products are of the highest quality and extremely effective for pest monitoring.

Suterra is proud to have many experts in monitoring, agriculture, and Integrated Pest Management on our team. If you have questions about this product or others, contact your local representative or send the company a message online using this link.