Historical difficulty and recent challenges with pear psylla and mites have sparked interest among growers, consultants, fruit packers, and researchers to take a closer look at the strategies we use to control these pests. Two industry-directed WSU projects focused on integrated pest management of pears began in early 2017.
Louis Nottingham is an entomologist examining tactics for managing psylla and mites. His primary focus is developing season-long management programs that involve cultural methods and properly selected and timed insecticide sprays to suppress psylla and mites while minimizing impacts on natural enemies. Striking a balance between active management and conserving biological control is the key to long-term control of these pests.
Chris Strohm is working with Tianna DuPont to assess integrated pest management programs in commercial pear orchards. Chris is scouting for pests and natural enemies in orchards that use conventional, IPM, and organic spray programs. The goal of this work is to create a scorecard to assist growers and consultants with management decisions and reduce the costly spraying that has become the norm for pear psylla control.
See the table of contents below for information and results coming from these projects. Keep tuned to the news section of treefruit.wsu.edu for updates (subscribe here).
- Challenges for Pear IPM
- Natural Enemies in Pear Orchards
- Pear IPM Strategies
- Pear IPM Delayed Dormant Materials
- Pear Psylla Repellency Assay
- Pear Psylla Management using Reflective Plastic Mulch
- 2018 Adult Pear Psylla Bioassays
- Pear Psylla Nymph Bioassays
- Pear Psylla Insecticide Bioassay – Egg Mortality
- Pear IPM Scouting
- Pear Psylla Management – Postharvest Sprays
- Pear Psylla – Summer Generations Overview and Management
Contacts
Elizabeth Beers
Department of Entomology
Washington State University
Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center
Wenatchee, WA 98801
Phone: 509.293.8755
email: ebeers@wsu.edu
Louis Nottingham, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
WSU – TFREC
1100 N Western Ave.,
Wenatchee, WA 98801
website: Nottingham’s Tree Fruit Entomology Lab
email: louis.nottingham@wsu.edu
Tianna DuPont
WSU Tree Fruit Extension
1100 N Western Ave.,
Wenatchee, WA 98801
Phone: 509.293.8758
email: tianna.dupont@wsu.edu
