Sublethal Abamectin as a Population Suppressant: Decoding the Transgenerational Impact on the Asian Citrus Psyllid for Sustainable Management

Diaphorina citri is the primary vector of huanglongbing (HLB). As field populations are frequently exposed to sublethal pesticide residues rather than acute lethal doses, we evaluated the transgenerational effects of abamectin at LC₂₅ and LC₅₀ on D. citri over two consecutive generations. Using age–stage, two-sex life table and population projection analyses, we found that abamectin significantly delayed nymphal development, shortened adult longevity, and reduced egg hatch, resulting in sustained declines in key population growth parameters across both generations. These findings indicate that abamectin can exert pronounced transgenerational population suppression under sublethal exposure scenarios, thereby potentially lowering the risk of HLB outbreaks in citrus orchards. The study supports field-oriented dose optimization, application timing, and resistance management strategies within integrated pest management (IPM) programs.