Mass-produce, release, and assess biological control releases of tamarixia radiata against the asian citrus psyllid (ACP) in the lower RIO grande valley (lrgv) of texas and louisiana

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) will receive $268,951 under a Cooperative Agreement awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to mass produce, release, and assess biological control releases of Tamarixia radiata against the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas and Louisiana from June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024. Deliverables under the award will include the numbers of beneficial insects produced and shipped for releases, as well as field data on psyllid populations compiled into annual reports. The funding supports the USDA APHIS program to protect U.S. agriculture from economically injurious plant and animal diseases and pests (Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care, CFDA No. 10.025) by helping commercial citrus growers and urban citrus owners combat the ACP threat through biological control methods.

Activities will include massproduction, shipments & releases, and field assessments of psyllid populations and parasitism by t. Radiata. Deliverables will be the numbers of beneficial insects produced, shipments made for releases, as well as field data on psyllid populations compiled into annual report. Efforts will benefit commercial citrus growers and urban citrus owners as well.