Attract and Kill Technology to Control Citrus Leafminer in Citrus Nurseries and Orchards

The citrus leafminer (CLM) is an important pest of citrus originally found in Florida in 1993 and in Texas in 1994; currently, CLM has spread through most citrus growing regions of the US. Larval-stage feeding results in serious damage to leaves and predisposes trees to citrus canker. Female CLM release their pheromone to attract males for mating. Alpha Scents Phase I research has proved the technical feasibility for the pheromone-based Attract and Kill (A&K), MalEx CLM targeting citrus leafminer. Phase I research characterized application timing, placement, formulation longevity, and behavioral efficacy against this species. In Phase II, we propose commercial scale trials in collaboration with citrus growers in Florida, Texas, and California. A&K technology selectively removes male moths of the target species from the ecosystem with negligible impact on other organisms by combining the selectivity of pheromones (0.024 g/ha) with the toxicity of insecticide (21 g/ha) in a hydrophobic bait that precludes run-off or drift, thus preventing ecosystem contamination and damage.