Rio Grande do Sul presents first record of citrus blackfly

Agricultural engineers from the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development (Seapdr) identified the first record of the citrus blackfly (Aleurocanthus woglumi) in Rio Grande do Sul.

The discovery was made during routine inspections of citrus groves in March 2021, in the city of Porto Xavier. Over the past year, Seapdr inspection teams carried out inspections of orchards looking for incidences of early blight and citrus canker, to keep these pests under control in the State, and a pest known as greening, which has not yet been registered. occurring in Rio Grande do Sul.

“Agronomists came across a species of insect that had not been found before and collected it. The material was sent to the Agricultural Laboratory, accredited by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa), and the first occurrence of citrus blackfly in the State was observed. Four more orchards close to the first occurrence were inspected, where the pest was also found”, reports the head of the Plant Health Defense Division, Rita Antochevis.

The characteristic damages of the citrus black fly, caused by both adult insects and nymphs, are sap sucking, weakened plants with wilting, reduction in the number of fruits and premature death of plants. “At the time of monitoring, a high occurrence of adult insects, eggs and nymphs was found”, adds Rita. In the leaves and fruits, the presence of sooty mold was also found, a fungus that proliferates in crops attacked by pests.

The citrus black fly was already considered a quarantine pest present in Brazil by Mapa, but, with the expansion of its occurrence, it was no longer part of this list as of 2014.