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Insects and Mite Control in Pecan 2013 Field Trials Jim Dutcher Entomology Department University of Georgia, Tifton, GA
Insects and Mite
Control in Pecan
2013 Field Trials
Jim Dutcher
Entomology Department
University of Georgia,
Tifton, GA
Objectives
• Improve chemical controls
• Improve sampling methods
• Development non-chemical control methods
PNC injury to this pecan nut cluster counts as
1 injured nut cluster and 1 injured nut.
Pecan nut casebearer control
Control of pecan nut casebearer
Effect of adding a sticker
5.5
2.0
0.0
2.2
0.90.0
% PNC injury
% nut clusters injured injury % nuts injured
Pecan nut casebearer control
with new insecticides5.5
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
1.0
0.0 0.0
2.2
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.00.3
0.0 0.0
% PNC Injury
% nut clusters injured % nuts injured
Hickory shuckworm control
Control of hickory shuckworm
Effect of adding a sticker
57
4 2 0
% HSW injury
Hickory shuckworm control
with new insecticides
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
% HSW injury
Mid-Summer Yellow Pecan Aphid Abundance in
Insecticide-Treated and Nontreated Pecan Trees.
0
1
2
3
4
5
3d 7d 14d 21d 28d
Ap
hid
s p
er s
hoot
Nontreated Assail 30 SG 8 oz/acre
Beleaf 2.0oz/acre Beleaf 2.4 oz/acre
Beleaf 2.8 oz/acre
Mid-Summer Blackmargined Aphid Abundance in
Insecticide-Treated and Nontreated Pecan Trees.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
3d 7d 14d 21d 28d
Ap
hid
s p
er s
hoot
Check Assail 30 SG 8 oz/acre
Beleaf 2.0oz/acre Beleaf 2.4 oz/acre
Beleaf 2.8 oz/acre
Pecan Leaf Scorch Mite
Eotetranychus hicoriae (McGregor)
When scouting for mites look for actual
mites crawling on the underside of the leaf
Pecan Mite Control 2013 - Four days post-treatment
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
PLSM Mites/lf PLSM Eggs/lf Predatory Mites/10 lf
Pecan Mite Control 2013 - 7 days post-treatment
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
PLSM Mites/lf PLSM Eggs/lf Predatory Mites/10 lf
Pecan Mite Control 2013 - 14 days post-treatment
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
30.00
35.00
40.00
45.00
50.00
PLSM Mites/lf PLSM Eggs/lf Predatory Mites/10 lf
Pecan Mite Control 2013 - 21 days post-treatment
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
PLSM Mites/lf PLSM Eggs/lf Predatory Mites/10 lf
Healthy Pecan Orchard - July
Green lacewings
Dolicopodid Fly
Blackmargined Aphid Adult
Blackmargined Aphid Nymphs
Black Pecan Aphid
Black Pecan Aphid Nymphs
Yellow pecan aphid adult and nymph
2006-12 Aphid Populations – Tift Co.
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
Ap
hid
s p
er s
hoot
"yellow aphids" black pecan aphid
Yellow aphid action threshold – 55 aphids per shoot
Black aphid action threshold – 5.5 aphids per shoot
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Aphid Suction Trap
• Aphids occur sporadically
and reproduce quickly in
the orchard
• Need a detection method to
tell when to treat
• The foliage is 30-80 ft off
the ground
• Sucking the insects out of
the tree with a large fan
seems to work for aphids
and aphid predators
Malaise Trap • Collects all flying insects
• Insects hit the vanes and fly up or fall into the bottom
• Has two collecting jars –one at the top and one at the bottom
• Pulled up into the tree with a pulley
• Cage made out of PVC pipe
• Good for ladybeetles, lacewings, predacious flies, most beetles
Fan trap collects all flying aerial
insects and spiders
Fan trap captures ladybeetles and
lacewings
Winged yellow pecan aphid carry 2-7
nymphs
Each adult blackmargined aphid
captured by fan trap had 4-8 nymphs
Aphids cleared and mounted on a
microscope slide
Black pecan aphids carry 4-11 nymphs
Black pecan aphid cleared and
mounted on microscope slide.
Seasonal Abundance of Pecan Aphids
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Num
ber
Aphid
s per
Lea
f
Yellow Pecan Aphid Blackmargined Aphid Black Pecan Aphid
Low summer
populationsBlackmargined predominant in
early Summer
Mixture of all three
species in the Fall
Resistant Cultivars
Sprays Clover
Aphid Adults in Canopy
Pheromone baited panel trap
Fitzgerald, GA Prionus Trap Catch
2012
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Male
Bee
tles
per
2 t
rap
s
Sampling date
Trap Catch ( 2 traps)
Field Samples
Alpha-pinene baited pitfall traps with
Insect-o-Slip® treated inner walls
Alpha-pinene attracts
female Prionus beetle.
Live female remains in trap
one week and the number
of males is recorded.
Peach Co., Georgia
Orchard – 2013
Total trap catch
596 male beetles
0 female beetles
1 male beetle
8 female beetles
Pitfall trap – 1 alpha pinene lure
Pheromone trap -1 lure per trap
1 acre
Source of map: Google Earth 2013 Digital Globe
Dougherty Co., Georgia - 2013
1 acre Total trap catch
5,520 male beetles
0 female beetles
253 male beetle
7 female beetlesPitfall trap – 1 alpha pinene lure
Pheromone trap -1 lure per trap
Source of map: Google Earth 2013 Digital Globe
Acknowledgement
• Cooperators:
– Nilo Plantation (Mitchell Co.)
– Cannon Farms (Crisp Co.)
– Lane Packing Co. (Peach Co.)
– Wade Farms (Fitzgerald, GA)
– UGA Coop. Extension – Dave Collins, Scott Carlson
• Student Workers: Jamie Wilson, Paul Tyson
• Funding: USDA/NIFA, Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Pecans, Cannon Farms, FMC Corp., NichinoAmerica Chemical Co., ISK Biosicence, Gowan Chemical Co., Dow AgroSciences,
• Discount on lures: Contech Inc., manufactures the lures
