Tips for Monitoring
So how can farmers know what to look for when it comes to monitoring for plant bugs? Marquez outlined a few tips to help farmers recognize what’s happening in their orchards.
- Know the field history. Visit the field frequently and take notes. “If you had a block that had problems this year, there’s a good chance it had problems frequently in the past,” Marquez explained.
- Assess nearby overwintering sites. Are you near a riparian or residential area? Plant bugs love to overwinter on structures or landscaping plants, so blocks of orchards near these areas can see increased damage if not actively monitored.
- Look at the sunny sides of trees, especially in the mornings. Because insects do not generate their own heat, they will often be exposed where the sun is shining.
- Concentrate on edges. “UC research has shown that damage dissipates as you move into the orchard when it comes to plant bug damage, so the edges are really where you want to focus your attention,” Marquez noted.
- Use a long stick or pole to knock branches. Trying to scan every nut on a tree can be very time-consuming, so this method can help speed up the process.
- Use all your senses. Sometimes what sight cannot catch, smell or hearing can. For example, some plant bugs can put off a recognizable odor, and the clicking sounds they make can be very distinct.
- Some varieties are more susceptible to damage than others. If you are a farmer growing Independence, Aldrich, Monterey, or Butte trees, know that these varieties are frequently targeted.
Treatment Options
If a plant bug problem is found in an orchard, it’s first important to consider how severe the infestation is and determine a plan of action for applying chemicals.
There are different options of chemicals for growers to choose from, but most opt to use a pyrethroid. While pyrethroids are the most effective and economical option, they also are the most broad spectrum. This may result in pairing it with another chemical, which ultimately raises the treatment cost, Marquez warned.
Another option is clothianidin, a softer chemical that has less impact on beneficials and is found in pyrethroid alternatives, although does not have the same residual effect and can require retreatment of fields.
Generally, chemical applications can be tricky depending on if it occurs prior to or after shell hardening. Marquez recommended assessing the issue at hand to determine if application can be delayed or combined with another chemical treatment to save the grower time and money.
“If it’s before the shell hardening period, the nuts that get stung are not going to end up in your grade,” he said. “While you’re going to lose some nuts, if it’s not that bad, we can delay until we know we’re going to have to spray for navel orangeworm or whatever treatment that’s coming up.”
Some growers with mixed varieties in their orchard can also cut time and costs by only spraying the varietal most prevalent to plant bug damage, Marquez suggested.
Adding to this challenge are the regulatory restrictions on chemical use coming down the pipeline. Marquez explained there is a potential for pyrethroids to be eliminated as a treatment method all together if this happens.
However, on a positive note, a new pheromone monitoring lure is currently in development, with hopes of making this process more streamlined for growers and PCAs alike, Marquez said. This product also has the potential for an “attract and kill program” which sets out a specific number of traps per acre as a treatment instead of spraying.
Future Outlook
It’s no secret that plant bug pressures are undoubtedly increasing, so growers must take initiative on scouting their orchards and driving preventative and proactive measures before a problem arises.
