Spray drift mitigation using opposing synchronized air-blast sprayers.

BACKGROUND: Pesticide drift is a serious environmental and safety concern that affects all of US agriculture. A number of mitigation techniques to reduce pesticide drift have been recommended by industry, academic and government agencies. These techniques are very costly or reduce the efficacy of the pest control product and have not been implemented by US agriculture. RESULTS: When using a novel spray technique (Air-in), pesticide drift was significantly reduced by between 53% and 99% at 7.6 m from the orchard drip line when compared to the grower standard. This technique not only reduced pesticide drift, but also maintained or improved the amount of pesticide residue deposited (by 0.7-2.6-fold) and the percentage pesticide coverage (by 1.0-1.4-fold) with different air-blast speed sprayers on almond, walnut and pistachio. CONCLUSION: The Air-in technique shows great promise in reducing pesticide drift while maintaining or improving pesticide coverage with minimal cost to the grower.

Enhancing the effectiveness of biological control programs of invasive species through a more comprehensive pest management approach.

Invasive species are one of the greatest economic and ecological threats to agriculture and natural areas in the US and the world. Among the available management tools, biological control provides one of the most economical and long-term effective strategies for managing widespread and damaging invasive species populations of nearly all taxa. However, integrating biological control programs in a more complete integrated pest management approach that utilizes increased information and communication, post-release monitoring, adaptive management practices, long-term stewardship strategies, and new and innovative ecological and genetic technologies can greatly improve the effectiveness of biological control. In addition, expanding partnerships among relevant national, regional, and local agencies, as well as academic scientists and land managers, offers far greater opportunities for long-term success in the suppression of established invasive species. In this paper we direct our recommendations to federal agencies that oversee, fund, conduct research, and develop classical biological control programs for invasive species. By incorporating these recommendations into adaptive management strategies, private and public land managers will have far greater opportunities for long-term success in suppression of established invasive species. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Predicting the emergence of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), on a degree-day scale in North America.

BACKGROUND: Codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a major pest of apple, pear and walnut production in North America. Management programs are based on preventing larval entry into the fruit or nut and are typically timed by heat-driven models that are synchronized to field populations by first capture of overwintering moths in pheromone traps. Unfortunately, trap capture is affected by a range of environmental parameters as well as by the use of mating disruption, which makes detecting first flight difficult, thus complicating implementation of management programs. The present goal was to evaluate data collected from a broad range of locations across North America to see whether average first spring emergence times could be predicted. RESULTS: Average emergence time on a degree-day scale from 1 January was predictable using latitude and elevation. Sites at elevations of <400 m fit a simple quadratic equation using latitude, but, when higher elevations were included, a multiple regression using elevation was required. CONCLUSIONS: The present models can be used to simplify management programs for codling moth in areas where heat-driven models that require extensive trapping to synchronize with emergence are currently used.

Developing Drosophila suzukii management programs for sweet cherry in the western United States.

BACKGROUND: The spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is a newly introduced pest of sweet cherry on the west coast of North America which produces about 97% of the value of the US sweet cherry crop. D. suzukii initially caused considerable economic loss to cherry growers, who were unaware of this new pest. Little control information was available at the time of initial infestation. Pest control studies were initiated to examine the materials, timings and application methods to control D. suzukii in three major cherry-producing states (California, Oregon and Washington). RESULTS: Three classes of registered insecticides, organophosphates, pyrethroids and spinosyns, have demonstrated good topical or residual activity against D. suzukii. Neonicotinoids and the systemic organophosphate dimethoate appear to be able to kill eggs or larvae in fruit. Preliminary timing studies indicate that at least two preharvest insecticide sprays are required to obtain control of D. suzukii in California cherry orchards. Aerially applied malathion ULV (ultra-low volume) appears to be a viable control tactic for this pest. CONCLUSION: The results presented here form the basis for developing D. suzukii management programs in the western United States. Additional studies are needed to refine management practices for the different growing regions and conventional versus organic production requirements. Cherry growers will likely need to apply broad-spectrum insecticides in a prophylactic manner until treatment thresholds and monitoring methods have been developed and validated.

The susceptibility of small fruits and cherries to the spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii.

BACKGROUND: The spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, is native to Asia and was first detected in the North American mainland and Europe in 2008-2010. Drosophila suzukii is a serious economic pest to stone and small fruits because the female lays eggs within ripening fruit on a plant before harvest, which can lead to crop loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility of blackberries, blueberries, cherries, grapes, raspberries and strawberries to D. suzukii among various ripeness stages and cultivars. RESULTS: In 26 no-choice and choice replicated laboratory cage tests on ripeness stages, fruits were generally susceptible to D. suzukii once fruits started to color. Few D. suzukii developed on green fruit, wine grapes or overripe blueberries. In seven cultivar tests, D. suzukii preferences ranged from no differences to fourfold differences for specific cultivars of blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and wine grapes. As brix levels increased, more eggs were laid or more D. suzukii developed on blackberries, blueberries, cherries, raspberries and strawberries. In a choice test of various fruit types, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries and blueberries were more susceptible to D. suzukii than green table grapes ('Thompson'). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that fruits may become susceptible to D. suzukii as they start to turn color, and that specific varieties of grapes and overripe blueberries have low susceptibility to D. suzukii.