CG107/CG107: 2026–2027 Florida Citrus Production Guide: Soft-Bodied Insects Attacking Foliage and Fruit

Recommended Chemical Controls for Soft-Bodied Insects

READ THE LABEL. Some product labels specify rates per acre, while others specify rates per volume delivered (e.g., per 100 gal). Refer to label for details on how product should be mixed for desired targets.

See Table 1.

Rates for pesticides are given as the maximum amount required to treat mature citrus trees unless otherwise noted. To treat smaller trees with commercial application equipment including handguns, mix the per-acre rate for mature trees in 250 gal of water. Calibrate and arrange nozzles to deliver thorough distribution, and treat as many acres as this volume of spray allows.

Table 1. Recommended chemical controls for scales, mealybugs, whiteflies, and aphids.

IRAC MOA¹	Pesticide Trade Name	Rate/Acre²	Comments	Pests Controlled
1B	Dimethoate
1B	Various products	See label		Aphids, scales, psyllids
4A	Clothianidin (soil drench)
4A	Belay 50 WDG	3.2–6.4 oz	For use on nonbearing trees only; do not apply within 1 year of fruit harvest. Do not exceed 12.8 oz/acre (0.4 lb a.i./acre) per year. Do not apply this product to blooming, pollen-shedding, or nectar-producing parts of plants if bees may forage on the plants during this time period.	Aphids, psyllids, citrus leafminer
4A	Imidacloprid
	Various products, 2F, 4F, and 4.6F	See label	Limit of 0.5 lb a.i./acre per growing season regardless of application type (soil and/or foliar) and trade name of imidacloprid product used.	Aphids, mealybugs, scales, whiteflies, psyllids, citrus leafminer (soil only)
	Foliar application	Half to full rate	Do not apply during bloom or within 10 days of bloom or when bees are actively foraging.
	Soil application	Half to full rate	8 fl oz of Admire Pro 4.6F per acre per 12 months when applied to soil. Do not exceed 0.5 lb a.i./acre per application. See SLN for additional information.
4A	Thiamethoxam
	Actara (foliar application)	4.0–5.5 oz	Do not exceed a total of 11.0 oz/acre (0.172 lb a.i./acre) per growing season. Do not apply during prebloom or during bloom when bees are actively foraging.	Aphids, mealybugs, scales, whiteflies, psyllids
	Platinum 75 SG (soil drench)	1.83–3.67 oz	Do not exceed a total of 3.67 oz/acre (0.172 lb a.i./acre) per growing season. Do not apply during prebloom or during bloom when bees are actively foraging.	Aphids, mealybugs, scales, whiteflies, psyllids, citrus leafminer
23	Spirotetramat
	Movento 240	10 fl oz + 3% v/v	Do not make more than one application during primary citrus bloom period. Recommended to be applied in 2% horticultural mineral oil. Limit of 0.32 lb a.i./acre per 12 months. Minimum interval of 21 days between applications.	Aphids, mealybugs, scales, whiteflies, citrus rust mites, psyllids
	Movento MPC	16 fl oz + 3% v/v	Do not apply within 10 days prior to bloom, during bloom, or until petal fall is complete. Recommended to be applied in 2% horticultural mineral oil. Limit of 0.32 lb a.i./acre per 12 months. Minimum interval of 21 days between applications.
29	Flonicamid
29	Beleaf 50SG	2.8 oz	Apply when populations begin to build.	Aphids
UN³	Horticultural Mineral Oil
UN³	97+% (FC 435-66, FC 455-88, or 470 oil)	5 gal	Do not apply when temperatures exceed 94°F. 470 weight oil has not been evaluated for effects on fruit coloring or ripening. These oils are more likely to be phytotoxic than lighter oils.	Aphid, scales, leafminer, citrus rust mite
¹Mode of action class for citrus pesticides from the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) Mode of Action Classification v. 11.4 (2025). ² Lower rates may be used on smaller trees. Do not use less than the minimum label rate. ³ Mode of action unknown.

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