Ladybugs for asian citrus psyllid
UC IPM names lady beetle adults and larvae among the predators of Asian citrus psyllid, and UF/IFAS lists at least 12 lady beetle species among its natural enemies. UC IPM's citrus guidelines add that there is little evidence from extensive field studies that lady beetles and other generalist predators give significant control in California citrus. Argentine ants farm the psyllid's honeydew and drive predators off, so ant control matters more than buying beetles. Predators cut numbers; they do not stop huanglongbing.
Before you act
Everyone's first idea for aphids, and the one beneficial where buying is usually the wrong move. The ladybugs sold by the tub are convergent lady beetles collected from the wild, and UC IPM says most fly away within a day or two of release, even when aphids are plentiful. The larvae do much of the eating, and they turn up on their own wherever there are aphids. How to recognise it, what it is confused with and how to keep it around are on the full Ladybugs profile.
Other controls for asian citrus psyllid
- HoverfliesWild predator (larvae) · Wild — attract adults with open flowers
- Garden spidersWild generalist predator · wild, attract it
- Tamarixia waspWild parasitoid — released by state agencies · No retail source found — released by the state; protect the ones already there