Mating disruption and reduced-risk methods to control peach pests and brown marmorated stink bug

Mating disruption and reduced-risk methods to control peach pests and brown marmorated stink bug

Summary

After meeting with peach growers, demonstration plots were established on three farms, encompassing two varieties. Supplies were distributed to growers, and weekly monitoring for brown marmorated stink bug and other pests was completed, and biological control activity was compared between standard and experimental plots. Project information was presented in a grower newsletter, and project summaries were given at two professional meetings.  Grower insecticide use data was collected, and is being analyzed along with other data collected from the past growing season.

Objectives/Performance Targets

• Investigate and demonstrate border/perimeter sprays for BMSB in peach orchards under OFM mating disruption and ground cover management compared to whole block broadcast treatments to reduce total insecticide use:
•             Two peach varieties (cv. Jerseyqueen and PF24) were chosen on three peach farms. Two blocks were used for each variety. One block functioned as the grower standard plot (GS), and the other block as the reduced input/border spray mating disruption plot (BSMD). Two growers participated with two varieties and one grower participated with one variety for a total of 10 experimental/demonstration blocks. The GS block was monitored but received a standard grower program of insecticides at either weekly or 10-14 day intervals. The BSMD block received mating disruption placed for the control of oriental fruit moth, herbicide/groundcover management for control of catfacing insects (tarnished plant bug, native stink bugs), and border applied insecticides for BMSB control. Mating disruption dispensers were placed in mid May and border spray treatments were started at that time. OFM mating disruption lures were obtained from CBC America (Biocontrol Isomate^® OFM TT), and hand applied at the rate of 70 dispensers per acre at the end of the first OFM flight period. Early season pest management for 1^st generation OFM, plum curculio and other pests such as green peach aphid were applied as needed according to the 2013 Rutgers Tree Fruit Production Guide. Participating growers supplied the labor needed for dispenser placement. Turf ground cover was maintained with the use of 2,4-D and a single application of clopyralid (Stinger^®) for the elimination of clover and other broadleaf weeds.
• Pest monitoring was done with transect sampling within each block for catfacing insects, BMSB and OFM populations through visual counts, pheromone traps and sweep nets. Each transect sample included 8 perimeter samples, 8 interior samples (6 rows in) and a center sample. Each sample also included 2 three minute timed counts for BMSB adults, nymphs and eggs, ground cover sweep sampling, whole tree counts for OFM flagging, and direct fruit counts for pest damage, for a total of 17 samples/block. An at harvest sample of 50 fruit was collected at each sample site totaling 850 fruit per block. Fruit was examined for all external and internal BMSB damage. Sentinel egg masses were placed in selected blocks (limited by availability of eggs) to assess any differences in biological control activity between the two treatments.

            Results – In season monitoring: From our weekly observational sampling we found no significant difference in the abundance of BMSB in orchards managed under either treatment. We also did not see any significant difference in the number of catfaced peaches. At harvest evaluation: We found significantly fewer peaches that had catfacing damage from trees in the BSMD managed blocks, but that varied depending on the location within the plantings. Impact of treatments on natural enemies: The different spray programs seemed to have different affects on the natural enemy populations when egg predation is measured. We did not find any parasitized BMSB eggs, but there was damage done to eggs from what appears to be piercing-sucking predators. Along the edge of each of the treatments there was no difference in the percent of eggs damaged, whereas in the interior of the BSMD blocks where insecticides were not applied, the percent of eggs damaged per egg mass was significantly higher than in the standard blocks where the entire block was treated.

• Calculate the cost of a “restructured” IPM program and obtain grower feedback:

Grower insecticide use records were collected at the end of the growing season. Records are currently being evaluated for the amounts and types of active ingredient use and cost. Insecticide use and input costs will be compared between the two treatments.

• Establish extension recommendations, document changes in NJ grower practices and reductions in insecticide use.

Extension presentations are planned for the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention in January and NJ annual fruit grower meetings in February and March. New sections about BMSB management have been written in the 2014 NJ Tree Fruit Production Guide.

Accomplishments/Milestones

see attached document for timeline

• ONE13-190 annual report timeline accomplished

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

It appears that border treatments for brown marmorated stink bug can be combined with mating disruption for the traditional key peach pest, oriental fruit moth, and groundcover management for native catfacing insects. This will likely reduce overall insecticide use for BMSB. It is also hoped that reduced insecticide use can lead to increased natural enemy activity.

Collaborators: