Commodity Protection and Quality Site Logo
ARS Home About Us Helptop nav spacerContact Us En Espanoltop nav spacer
Printable VersionPrintable Version E-mail this pageE-mail this page
Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture
Search
  Advanced Search
 
Programs and Projects
Subjects of Investigation
 

Research Project: Impact of navel orangeworm mating disruption on the natural enemy complex of key arthropod pests

Location: Commodity Protection and Quality

2010 Annual Report


1a.Objectives (from AD-416)
To monitor natural enemy densities of key moth pests in orchards with and without navel orangeworm mating disruption. Initial studies will focus on the moth pests and natural enemies found in almonds, pistachios, and walnuts, which have the greatest potential for change.


1b.Approach (from AD-416)
Navel orangeworm (NOW): Goal is to compare changes in NOW parasitism levels at three critical periods: (i) after the first NOW summer generation (ii) at harvest time, and (iii) during the overwintering period. At each site, a minimum of 1000 nuts will be collected and dissected for NOW or parasitoids. Peach Twig Borer: The peach twig borer adult flight periods will be monitored using pheromone traps. PTB larval infestation will be monitored at three critical periods: (i) during spring (ii) at harvest time, and (iii) during the overwintering period. Nuts will be collected to determine levels of infestation Oriental fruit moth: The oriental fruit moth (OFM) adult flight periods will be monitored using pheromone traps. OFM larvae will be collected to determine infestation levels and parasitism in a similar manner as described for PTB. Leafrollers: Populations of leafrollers including obliquebanded leafroller (OBLR), fruittree leafroller (FTLR), the filbertworm (FW), and omnivorous leafroller (OLR), will be assessed over the next 3 years, in the NOW mating disruption program. The species of moth and their infestation levels will be determined for the three regional areas of the NOW mating program. A color brochure will be developed that provides a picture key, along with some field taxonomy guides, to identify the different secondary moth larvae. A brief description of their biology and control will also be provided.


3.Progress Report

This research contributes to objective 1 of the in-house project. The goal of this project is to evaluate the impact of mating disruption to control navel orangeworm on populations of beneficial insects and secondary almond pests. Two ARS entomologists and one entomologist from UC Berkeley, based in Parlier, CA are collaborating on this project in the San Joaquin Valley so that the efficacy of mating disruption employing aerosol puffers can be demonstrated. Baseline NOW and beneficial insect population data were collected from the 2008 crop season, and changes in these levels will be compared to mating disruption in 2009 and 2010. Two species of parasitoids that attack navel orangeworm were identified and the relationship between reduced insecticide use and their prevalence will be determined.

Cooperator activity was monitored by reports at a stakeholder meeting in August, presentations made to the Almond Board of California, telephone conversations and e-mail.


   

 
Project Team
Siegel, Joel
 
Project Annual Reports
  FY 2012
  FY 2011
  FY 2010
  FY 2009
 
Related National Programs
  Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)
 
 
Last Modified: 06/19/2013
ARS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Policies and Links 
FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Nondiscrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | White House