Location: Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research
Project Number: 2092-22430-003-035-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2021
End Date: Sep 30, 2023
Objective:
Examine potential of earwig augmentation in pome fruit by using drones to release earwigs.
Approach:
The purpose of this study is to determine if drone releases of earwigs can be substituted for more time-consuming hand releases by checking earwig establishment post-release. We will compare hand release, drone release, and no release treatments in commercial orchards in Wenatchee (pears) and Yakima (apples). We will release ~200 immuno- and fluorescent-marked earwigs/plot in June of each year and monitor earwig establishment.
