Back to citrus leafminer

 

How to Collect, Handle and Ship Plant Material for Citrus Leafminer Parasitoids.  The following instructions are provided for anyone wishing to know what species of natural enemies of the citrus leafminer are found in their orchards.  Dr. David Headrick has offered to receive and process samples at Cal Poly. 

 

  1. Examine citrus leaves for evidence of mining.  Examine leaves of differing ages, since parasitism develops slowly relative to citrus leafminer larval mining.  Parasitoid pupal stages may be on young or old leaves.

  

 

  1. Citrus leafminer parasitoids tend to pupate in mines, but examine the citrus leafminer pupation site as well by pulling apart the curled leaf edge exposing the citrus leafminer pupa. 

  

 

  1. If you see a dark parasite pupae inside a mine, surrounded by small meconial (fecal) pellets as pictured below, then snip off the leaf and place it into a paper bag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Text Box: © 2007 David H. Headrick

 
  1. After you have collected as many such leaves as you can find at a particular location, package them for shipping to Cal Poly where they will be  processed and identified.  Be sure to keep collections from different orchards separate.  Be sure to send them soon after collection so that they arrive at Cal Poly in a fresh condition.

  

  1. Place freshly picked leaves loosely onto a dry paper towel.  Fold the towel over the top of the leaves – do not press down.  Place the towel-wrapped leaves into a zip-top type plastic bag and seal shut.  The paper towel is critical for plastic bags as fresh picked leaves begin to sweat in plastic and the condensation can adversely affect the developing parasitoid.  If you use a paper bag fold the top over twice and tape or staple shut.  Do not poke holes in any of the bags – the insects do not need any more air than is already in the bag (this is not the giant grasshopper you tried to keep in a jar as a kid).  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Inside the package, include a note with the following information:
    a. Date the leaves were sampled
    b. Location of the orchard the sample was taken from (address and county)
    c. Your name, phone number, and email address so that we can contact you with the results.
     
  2. Place the bag into a small cardboard box; affix a mailing label and appropriate postage. 

    Mail to:

      David Headrick (805) 756-5382

Horticulture and Crop Science Department

Cal Poly State University

1 Grand Ave

San Luis Obispo, CA 93407