The Dundee Biological Control Laboratory: Mass rearing the parasitoid Tamarixia radiata for control of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, in Florida

The Division of Plant Industry of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services opened the Dundee Biological Control Laboratory in 2014 to serve as a mass rearing facility for insect parasites. This 30,000 sq-ft complex of greenhouses, laboratories, insect rearing chambers and support facilities is located in the town of Dundee in the heart of the citrus growing region of central Florida. Its current mission is to produce and release large numbers of Tamarixia radiata, a tiny parasitoid wasp that is a very effective natural enemy of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (ACP). This psyllid is the vector of citrus greening disease or “Huanglongbing” (HLB), which is currently devastating Florida citrus groves. Wasp releases target sites that harbor ACP populations but receive few if any pesticide treatments. This includes organic citrus groves, abandoned groves, dooryard citrus, and alternate host plants. In six years of operation, the Dundee laboratory has produced a total of 13,203,506 Tamarixia. Of these, 11,651,817 (88.2%) were released in citrus and the remainder were used in production. Releases of Tamarixia radiata have long been and continue to be a major component of ACP and HLB management in countries around the world. In the US, Tamarixia production and release programs are also being conducted in the citrus producing states of California and Texas.