Vine mealybug is a major pest grape growers all over California have to deal with. Not only does this insect produce honeydew that serves as a substrate for black sooty mold, but is also a vector for spreading devastating Leafroll-associate viruses. Watch this brief interview with UCCE Entomology Farm Advisor David Haviland as he shares options growers have for managing this troublesome pest. Read more in American Vineyard Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.
When it comes to Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter, it’s critical for growers to pay attention to both the disease and the vector. Although collaborative efforts within the grape industry have kept disease levels down in recent years, population levels of the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter have been elevating in the San Joaquin Valley. Watch this brief interview with UC Cooperative Extension Entomology Farm Advisor David Haviland as he addresses these concerns and read more in American Vineyard Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.
Gill’s Mealybug was an unusually difficult problem for many pistachio growers last year. Watch this brief interview with David Haviland to learn what growers can do right now to get these pests under control and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
Masked Chafer (AKA white grubs) have been problematic for blueberry growers, particularly in the Central Valley of California. The good news is that researchers and entomologists have come up with both organic and conventional methods treatments for these soil pests. Watch this brief interview UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor David Haviland to learn about these options and read more about it in California Fresh Fruit Magazine.
Citrus thrips have been a major nuisance for California blueberry growers, but how do you keep them under control and when should you apply crop protection materials? Is there an organic treatment available? Watch this brief interview UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor David Haviland as he answers all these questions. Read more about blueberry pest management in California Fresh Fruit Magazine.
Mating disruption technology for Navel Orangeworm Control has been around for a while now, but today there are a lot more products on the market available to tree nut growers. UCCE Entomology Farm Advisor in Kern County, David Haviland shared in an interview with California Ag Network that his research trials prove that not only is mating disruption technology a worthwhile investment for growers, but growers have several effective options to choose from. Watch this interview and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
UC IPM Advisor David Haviland recently shared some tips on mealybug control. The goal is to lower mealybug populations, prevent movement, protect the cluster and keep the vines compatible for biocontrol (especially postharvest). Some insecticides effective against vine mealybug include: Chlorpyrifos (delayed-dormant treatment), Buprofezin (best against crawlers), Spirotetramat (foliar applied/systemic in the phloem and xylem), and Neonicotinoids (some soil, some foliar applied).
Moving into 2018, Haviland recommended growers and PCAs consider how temperature and weather impacts pest populations. “Insect development is often driven by temperature,” he said. “When the temperatures are higher, the mealybugs are more active and develop more quickly. In some springs, temperatures gradually warm up over time, and mealybug development is fairly synchronized. This allows growers to use products or growth regulators geared toward controlling the crawler stage in the spring, and they are very effective when the insects are synchronized in their development stage.”
“But in other years, early season temperatures vary from warming up to cold again with inconsistent weather patterns, and this confuses the pest as they start to develop. This puts them out of synchronization as far as development, leading to all stages of the pest present at the same time in the vineyard. In such a case using a pesticide that goes after one stage of the pest will be much less effective.”
As we never know what the weather will bring, growers and PCAs need to pay close attention to weather patterns and spring mealybug populations to determine the most effective IPM approach to take for successful mealybug management.
David Haviland to speak at Malcolm Media’s Annual Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo
Haviland will be presenting his latest research on vine mealybug management through mating disruption technology with sprayable pheromone at the annual Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo coming up on November 14th at the Big Fresno Fairgrounds. The expo will run from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Haviland’s presentation will begin at 10:30 a.m. Growers and PCAs are invited to attend with free admission. Don’t miss Haviland’s presentation, the many other informative grower seminars that will take place. Pre-register for the expo here.
2016 was an odd year for mite pressure & management in almonds. UC Kern County Entomologist David Haviland addressed this at Malcolm Media’s Annual Tree & Vine Expo in Turlock. Watch this brief interview with David as he reflects on last year’s trends of mite monitoring/control as growers prepare to manage them this year.
