New perspectives in pest control

Citrus is an international crop, accessible to exotic pests, but also with options to access solutions from aroundthe world. The introduction to California of cottony cushion scale followed by the vedalia beetle in 1888, isjust one early example of how citrus entomologists have worked together to develop ways to safeguard thisimportant crop. Recent years have continued to see the spread of serious invasive pests and vectored diseasesthat challenge our scientific and grower communities. Climate change may also serve to exacerbate impactsfrom new invaders as well as resident pests. Current options to deal with these challenges are many, fromomic approaches to food-web engineering. The overall objective is to increase the sustainability of citruswhile providing the public with a safe wholesome product that can be justifiably promoted for enhancementof human health. Strategies to be discussed for achieving this goal include: . Augmentative and conservation biological control Evergreen agro-ecosystems like citrus support complex food webs with diverse natural enemies that canbe conserved and manipulated to maintain most pests below economic injury levels. Studies focused onthe role of indigenous natural enemies in the citrus agrosystem and the conservation of both native andexotic natural enemies are being emphasized in recent years. Such studies and the management systemsthey lead to will probably continue to play more important role in the citrus production worldwide. . Selective chemistry While an important goal is decreased dependence on pesticides, not all pests can always be adequatelycontrolled biologically. Selective "smart" chemistry that can selectively suppress difficult pests withminimal collateral damage to non-target organisms will continue to be important tools in the near termas the industry moves toward more sustainable management systems. . Semiochemical-based pest management Semiochemicals are th