COMPARISON OF PETROLEUM SPRAY OILS, ABAMECTIN, CARTAP, AND METHOMYL FOR CONTROL OF CITRUS LEAFMINER (LEPIDOPTERA, GRACILLARIIDAE) IN SOUTHERN CHINA

The efficacy of 3 petroleum spray oils and abamectin plus oil for the control of the citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton were c ompared with conventional broad-spectrum pesticides, cartap and methom yl, in a commercial orange orchard in southern China. No differences w ere found among the 3 oils in the number of mines per leaf sampled 4 d after the application of 3 sprays at an interval of 6-7 d. A narrow-r ange oil applied at a rate of 500 ml/100 liters of water provided cont rol of leafminer equivalent to cartap and methomyl. Abamectin Dirts pe troleum spray oil at a rate of 1.5 g (AI) plus 500 ml/100 liters of wa ter, respectively, provided complete control of leafminer. The dose re sponse of citrus leafminer to narrow-range petroleum spray oil, water emulsion indicated that concentrations >0.5% oil provided little addit ional protection. No phytotoxicity was observed with any of tile oil t reatments. Results are discussed in terms of a sustainable, integrated pest management system.