Insecticides for Citrus Trees

Growing citrus trees involves controlling infestations of insects and disease. Major chemical companies create and manufacture insecticides that are sold under numerous trade names. Some insecticides are available for consumer use whiles others are only available to commercial growers. States that have a heavy economic reliance on the citrus production such as Florida and California issue yearly regulations regarding the legal use of insecticides.

Copper sprays include broad-spectrum insecticides that are effective on a wide range of fruit and vegetable plants including citrus trees. Sprays must be applied to fruit before infection.The spray sticks to the fruit and leaf surface. Formulations of copper include copper oxychloride, copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide, tribasic copper sulphate and copper ammonium complexes. They work as fungicides and miticides controlling diseases and pests like citrus rust mites. Numerous trade brands of copper hydroxide blends are available on the market for citrus growers and home gardeners. They include Bac-Stop, Badge X2, Basic Copper 53, Champ Dry Pill, Kocide Stretch, Nordox and many others. Copper sprays can damage fruit is the formula is too acidic for plants or if the spray is applied in during periods of high humidity. Fruit will develop dark spots and blemishes making the fruit unmarketable.

Imidacloprid is an active ingredient in many commercial insecticides. Bayer Cropscience manufactures the nicotine-based chemical. Brands of imidacloprid include Admire, Evidence, Connect, Condifor, Muralla, Thunder O-teq and Provado. Forms of the chemical include dusting power, liquid, wettable power and granular. Citrus growers around the world apply imidacloprid to seeds, soil and foliage. The chemical is used to control sucking and biting insects including aphids, termites, thrips, soil insects, whiteflies and some beetle species. It damages the nervous system of insects, paralyzing them leading to death. It is effective on contact and through ingestion. It is highly toxic to upland game birds and bees and mildly toxic to aquatic life. Commercial packaging of imidacloprid carries warning labels from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Diflubenzuron is a strong chemical used to control parasites and insects in many crops including citrus. Growers use it to control citrus rust mites, leaf miners, leaf rollers and several types of moths and weevils. It works via contact and ingestion. The chemical interferes with the insect’s production of chitin, the compound that hardens the shell. It can also kill larvae. The chemical is slightly toxic to animals. Labels on diflubenzuron packaging carry a caution label.

Sulfur is approved by the EPA for use as an insecticide. Citrus growers use it to fight fungus and to control infestations of mites and leafhoopers. Hundreds of pesticides include sulfur. Many sulfur trade products also contain copper hydroxide. Products that are mostly sulfur include Citrusperse Sulfur, Dusting Sulfur, Kolodust, Sulfur 90 W and Yellow Jacket Wettable Sulfur. Copper blends include Top-Cop with sulfur, Quimag Copper Sulfate Crystals and Copper Sulfate Crystals.