Insect Control Research for Pecan Ted Cottrell USDA, Agricultural Research Service Southeastern Fruit and Tree Nut Research Laboratory 21 Dunbar Road, Byron, GA
Pecan Insects Pecan nut casebearer Pecan aphids Black pecan aphid Blackmargined aphid Yellow aphid Pecan weevil Stink bugs Hickory shuckworm
A website with pecan production information: pecan.ipmpipe.org/
Managing 1 st Generation PNC Pheromone traps PNC: First Capture at Byron, GA Year 3 to 5 traps per 2005 orchard (< 50 acres); 5 May traps 9 if > 50 acres. Spread traps out. Place each trap near a nut cluster. 2006 April 28 Put out traps before PNC moths fly. 2007 April 25 Sample traps every 3-4 days and at least 3x per week for adult PNC moths. 2008 April 28 Plenty of photos on the web to help you ID PNC adults! Date 2009 April 29 2010 April Pecan 27 bud moth 2011 April 27 2012 April 6 2013 April 29 PNC
Managing 1 st Generation PNC Scout orchard for PNC eggs on nutlets 7-10 days after capturing the first PNC adult in a trap. Use a hand lens to aid in this process. If an insecticide treatment is needed, it is typically applied to the orchard 2 weeks after the first male moths are captured in traps. Do not apply insecticide due to high trap capture. If an application is even warranted, application based on high trap capture usually results in the application being made too early to provide needed residual activity for PNC control. Trap capture (low or high) DOES NOT indicate whether an insecticide needs to be applied.
Tips for scouting PNC Start scouting for PNC eggs on nutlets 7-10 days after capturing the first PNC in pheromone traps. Examine 10 nut clusters/tree on 31 trees If you find 2 infested clusters (eggs or nut entry) before sampling all trees, apply an insecticide within the next few days. Mark some infested nut clusters with ribbon to determine egg hatch. Newly laid eggs are white but turn pink/red before hatching. Apply insecticide 1-2 days after egg hatch. Scout for infested clusters again 5-7 days later. If you find < 2 infested clusters, sample again 2-3 days later. If you then find 2 infested clusters, immediately apply treatment. If no treatment is needed, sample again 2 days later. This sample is very important if weather conditions have been cool or rainy.
Average Moths / Trap 2012 PNC Trap Capture, Byron, GA Average Capture by Sample Date 35 30 25 20 15 10 Orchard 1 Orchard 2 Orchard 3 5 0 Data collected from 3 PNC traps/orchard
Cumulative Capture of PNC Moths Over Time 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 2012 PNC Trap Capture, Byron, GA Cumulative Data Is trap capture an indicator of the amount of future damage? Orchard 1 Orchard 2 Orchard 3 Data collected from 3 PNC traps/orchard
Percentage of Clusters Percentage PNC Infestation of Nut Clusters in Unsprayed Pecan Orchards May 31, 2012 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 Trap capture is not an indicator of the amount of future damage!! Infested Not Infested 10 0 1.3% 1.5% 2.0% Orchard 1 Orchard 2 Orchard 3 Sampled 20 nut clusters per tree on 20 trees in each orchard
Average Moths/Trap/Week 2013 PNC Capture in Traps 70 60 May 1 May 8 May 15 May 22 50 40 30 20 10 0 5 25 45 5 25 45 5 25 45 5 25 45 Trap height (ft) in the pecan tree
2013 Capture of PNC Moths and Nut Damage During 2013 PNC moth flight, we sampled 1,200 nut clusters for PNC eggs. Nut clusters were sampled from the canopy bottom to the top. We found 0 eggs. No PNC control action was taken this past Spring (2013). Later, we sampled 300 nut clusters for signs of PNC nut entry. We found 0 infested clusters.
For your consideration: Some of the nuts you save from PNC will drop in June. Heavy/Light crop. The cost of traps/lures and scouting will pay you back in pesticide and fuel savings. Spraying for PNC just to be safe is another way to redistribute your wealth. SO.. You may need to treat your orchard for PNC. OR You may not need to treat your orchard for PNC. Trapping adult moths and scouting for eggs/nut entry will let you make that decision with confidence!
2013 Insecticide Trials Aphids, Hickory Shuckworm and Pecan Weevil In collaboration with David Shapiro-Ilan, USDA, ARS, Byron GA
2013 Insecticide Treatments & Application Dates - Treatments applied to orchards - 100 gpa using airblast sprayer Date Plan 1 Plan 2 Plan 3 Plan 4 Plan 5 Jul 12-17 Belay 6 oz ProGibb 4% 20oz Aug 2-5 Belay 6 oz ProGibb 4% 20oz Aug 22 Danitol 16 oz Apta 27 oz ProGibb 4% 20oz Venerate 2 lbs Sept 3-4 Danitol 16 oz Apta 27 oz ProGibb 4% 20oz Venerate 2 lbs Sept 12-15 Danitol 16 oz Closer 2.75 oz Carbaryl 4L 3 qt Closer 2.75 oz ProGibb 4% 40oz Venerate 2 lbs Sept 30 Bifenture EC 12.8 oz + Closer 2.75 oz Bifenture EC 12.8 oz + Closer 2.75 oz Venerate 2 lbs White untreated Control
Aphids per Compound Leaf 70 Blackmargined and Yellow Pecan Aphids 2013 60 50 40 30 20 10 Plan 1 Plan 2 Plan 3 Plan 4 0 Jul 2 Jul 29 Aug 13 Aug 28 Sep 11 Spray Dates Plan 1 Plan 2 Plan 3 Plan 4 Jul 12-17 Aug 2-5 Aug 22 Sept 3 Belay 6 oz Belay 6 oz Danitol 16 oz Danitol 16 oz Apta 27 oz Apta 27 oz ProGibb 4% 20oz ProGibb 4% 20oz ProGibb 4% 20oz ProGibb 4% 20oz
Aphids per Compound Leaf Black Pecan Aphid 2013 50 45 40 35 Plan 1 30 25 20 15 10 Plan 2 Plan 3 Plan 4 Control 5 0 July 2 July 29 Aug 13 Aug 28 Sep 11 Spray Dates Plan 1 Plan 2 Plan 3 Plan 4 Jul 12-17 Belay 6 oz ProGibb 4% 20oz Aug 2-5 Belay 6 oz ProGibb 4% 20oz Aug 22 Danitol 16 oz Apta 27 oz ProGibb 4% 20oz Sept 3-4 Danitol 16 oz Apta 27 oz ProGibb 4% 20oz
Aphids per Compound Leaf 2013 Closer (Sulfoxaflor) Insecticide Trial Blackmargined + Yellow Pecan Aphid Data 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 18-Jul 25-Jul 1-Aug 8-Aug 15-Aug 22-Aug 29-Aug 5-Sep 12-Sep Closer Control Closer (2.75 oz/a and 100 gpa) applied on July 18 and August 6.
Aphids per Compound Leaf 2013 Closer Insecticide Trial Black Pecan Aphid Data 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 18-Jul 25-Jul 1-Aug 8-Aug 15-Aug 22-Aug 29-Aug 5-Sep 12-Sep Closer Control Closer (2.75 oz/a and 100 gpa) applied on July 18 and August 6. Cross resistance by aphids to imidacloprid (4A) and sulfoxaflor (4C)?
% Nuts with HSW Infestation 2013 Hickory Shuckworm Damage assessment made in October 2013 60 50 40 30 A A AB Plan 1 Plan 2 Plan 3 20 10 0 C BC Plan 5 Control Date Plan 1 Plan 2 Plan 3 Plan 5 Jul 17 Belay 6 oz + + Aug 2-5 Belay 6 oz + + Aug 22 Danitol 16 oz + Apta 27 oz + Venerate 2 gal Sep 3 Danitol 16 oz + Apta 27 oz + Venerate 2 gal Sep 12-15 Danitol 16 oz + Closer 2.75 oz Carbaryl 3/4 gal + Closer 2.75 oz Sep 30 Bifenture EC 12.8 oz + Closer 2.75 oz Bifenture EC 12.8 oz + Closer 2.75 oz + Venerate 2 gal Venerate 2 gal
% Nuts with HSW Infestation 2013 Hickory Shuckworm 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Plan 1 Control lower 1/3 middle 1/3 upper 1/3 Pecan Canopy Sample Location Hickory Shuckworm is more prevalent in the upper canopy of the pecan tree.
% Nuts with Pecan Weevil 50 40 30 upper 1/3 20 10 0 2013 Pecan Weevil Nuts collected BEFORE harvest A A Canopy Sample Location A A A middle 1/3 lower 1/3 Plan 1 Plan 2 Plan 3 Plan 5 Control Date Plan 1 Plan 2 Plan 3 Plan 5 Jul 17 Belay 6 oz + + Aug 2-5 Belay 6 oz + + Aug 22 Danitol 16 oz + Apta 27 oz + Venerate 2 gal Sep 3 Danitol 16 oz + Apta 27 oz + Venerate 2 gal Sep 12-15 Danitol 16 oz + Closer 2.75 oz Carbaryl 3/4 gal + Closer 2.75 oz Sep 30 Bifenture EC 12.8 oz + Closer 2.75 oz Bifenture EC 12.8 oz + Closer 2.75 oz + Venerate 2 gal Venerate 2 gal
% Dead + Moribund Insecticide Assay against Brown Stink Bug June 2011 Peaches sprayed in field, 24 h later taken to lab and SB s placed on fruit in cups. 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 1 day after SB s added to cup control Danitol (21.3 oz/a) Danitol (10.7 oz/a) Endigo ZC (5.5 oz/a) Imidan (2.25 lbs/a)
Brown Stink Bug Assay on Peach Peaches sprayed in orchard, next day peaches picked and put in a cup with a stink bug. Observations made 24 hours later. 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Control Danitol Endigo Belay and Karate % Dead % Moribund % Alive Danitol = 16 oz/a --- Endigo = 5.5 oz/a --- Belay (2.9 oz/a) + Karate (2.3 oz/a)