Effect of flonicamid and abamectin on nymphs of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, 1908 (Hemiptera: Liviidae) in Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of flonicamid (Beleaf (R)) and orchards in Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Vegetative shoots of Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack infested with D. citri nymphs were attached to young C. limon shoots before applying the treatments: T1) flonicamid (Beleaf (R)), T2) abamectin (Thor (R) 3.6 EW), and T3) untreated control (water). Nymph mortality was recorded at 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 216, and 288 hours after treatment. Data was analyzed using the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test followed by a mean-rank multiple comparison. Abamectin showed rapid and consistent action, reaching 97\% mortality at 24 hours and 100\% from 48 to 288 hours. In contrast, flonicamid exhibited a slower but progressive effect, with 25.86\% mortality at 24 hours and a maximum of 88.18\% at 288 hours. These findings suggest that flonicamid has a slow-acting yet effective mode of action, consistent with its interference in the feeding behavior of sap-sucking insects and can be considered a valuable component in integrated pest management (IPM) programs aimed at minimizing resistance pressure.