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Oils are an essential component of integrated pest management programs for citrus based on the use of natural enemies. The efficacies of 2
and 0.5% (V N) pertroleum spray oils (volk oil) for the control of citrus leaf miner Phyllocnistis citrella Stain ton were determined in spring 1997. Both oils significantly suppressed leaf miner infestations to similar levels. Mean number of larvae per 10 leaves in 0.5%, 2% oils, copper oxychloride 35% wp + oil and control treatments in different citrus cultivars were respectively as follows (1st
week after spray): Sour Lime: 0.15, 0.17, 0 & 3.2, Grapefruit: 0.1, 0, 0 & 1, Valencia Orange: 0.5, 0.3, 0.14 & 2.1 and Kinnow Mandarin: 0, 0, 0 & 2.1. Combining the oil with copper fungicide did not reduce its efficacy against the leaf miner. The ability to mix them will allow spray application costs to be reduced. Oil are used to control pests such as scale insects, aphids, and mites when natural enemies are ineffective. Oils offer 4 major advantages over
broad spectrum pesticides: They may be handled without protective clothings; they have low toxicity to vertebrate animals; they have little deterimental effect on beneficial insects and pests cannot develop resistance. Pteroleum oils act as an ovipositional deterrent to the pest.