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2022 Pear Pest Scouting

Authors: Robert Orpet, Chris McCullough, Molly Sayles and Louie Nottingham; WSU Entomology. March 14, 2022

The Nottingham lab at WSU-TFREC is monitoring pear pests at seven commercial locations in the Wenatchee Valley in addition to the WSU research center orchard (‘Sunrise’) near Rock Island (Figure 1). At each location, one block follows our phenology-based IPM guidelines and another block follows standard conventional management. We are also monitoring organically managed blocks at three of the locations. All blocks contain mostly Anjou and Bartlett trees planted >50 years ago, except for Rock Island, which was planted in 2007.

A summary of pear psylla adult, egg, and nymphs across sites is in Figure 2 (Summer) and Figures 3-4 (Spring), and data per site in are in Tables 1–6.

How we Sample

We sample pear psylla adults (Table 1) and natural enemies (Table 4) with beat tray taps. In spring, we collect buds to monitor psylla eggs and nymphs.  In summer through fall, we collect leaves to monitor psylla eggs (Table 2) and nymphs (Table 3), mites (Table 5), and earwigs (Table 6).

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A map of the Wenatchee valley with dots for the seven paired sampling sites from Rock Island to Leavenworth.
Figure 1. Areas of paired pear orchards for pest monitoring in commercial orchards (panel A) and the WSU SRO pear blocks (panel B). AgWeatherNet (AWN) temperature sensor locations are indicated with blue points, city landmarks with red.

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For the Week of October 31

Thank you to everyone who attended our pear psylla field day and special thanks to Matt McDevitt for providing his orchard for the event. We had a great discussion about experiences with soft programs and using the phenology model. We know the timing was tight during Anjou harvest, but we hope to see you again at future events.

Announcements:

  • We are still gathering some spray records and scheduling interviews if we have not yet this season.
  • Save the date – WSU Extension is hosting a Pear IPM Intensive day Dec 14 with a slate of expert presenters and activities https://treefruit.wsu.edu/event/pear-ipm-intensive/

Pear psylla degree-days and phenology:

  • At all sites, we are the end of the third generation of pear psylla and past the limits of the phenology model. A partial fourth generation of eggs and nymphs will be produced, and these will die once leaves drop. A mix of life stages are currently present due to overlap with the third generation.
  • New adults being produced are mainly winterforms that will overwinter in and around pear orchards.

Management guidelines:

Scouting Report:

  • Only pear psylla adult and natural enemy numbers were updated this week because leaves were too crinkly to check for eggs and nymphs on the leaf brush machine.
  • Winterform psylla adult numbers increased even more in the last two weeks (note the scale is up to 100 on Figure 2 below).
  • Conventional sites have extremely high counts; you can hear the rustle of adults as you walk in the sticky orchards.
  • Natural enemies are disappearing from tray tap counts as they are finding shelter to overwinter.
  • Site-specific graphs of pear psylla abundance are posted on the project webpage if you would like to see the data for your orchards.

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Summer Sampling (May 30 through present)

Figure 2. Pear psylla adults, eggs, and nymphs and natural enemies (NEs; Trechnites, Deraeocoris, Campylomma, green lacewing adults and larvae, ladybug adults and larvae, anthocorids) in project orchards (8 conventional, 8 phenology, 3 organic). Psylla art by Toriani Kent.

 

Site Specific Scouting Graphs

(each site will open in a new page)

Site 1 – Rock Island Site 2 – Monitor Site 3 – Cashmere Site 4 – Dryden
Site 5 – Dryden Site 6 – Peshastin Site 7 – Hwy 97 Site 8 – Leavenworth

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Summer Sampling (May 30 through present)

Psylla Adults Per Tray Tap (Summer)

Table 1. Pear psylla adults per tray tap paired orchards (C = conventional, P = Phenology-based IPM, O = organic). Dates represent the week of the sample. Cells with “–” indicate no sample due to site inaccessibility or re-entry intervals.

PP adults/tray 8/29 9/5 9/19 10/3 10/17
Rock Island 1 C 0.6 2.3 10 19.1 44.8
P 0.2 0.08 0.6 0.4 2.4
Monitor 2 C 9.7 8.9 11.9 11.1 82.9
P 2.4 1.8 1.3 0.8 9.4
Cashmere 3 C 2.4 6.3 7.6 51.4 98.9
P 1.9 0.5 0.4 1.8 5.2
O 3 0.5 0.3 3 5
Dryden 4 C 2.3 6.5 14.4 63.4 107.2
P 3.9 5.06 11.02 7.3 74.4
Dryden 5 C 14 23.4 21.5 68.9 235.2
P 3.2 5.1 3.6 14 55.2
O 3.7 1.2 2.7 9.08 26.08
Peshastin 6 C 0.7 2 7.8 32.08 55.8
P 2 1.5 1 0.8 2.2
O 1.9 1.3 0.6 0.4 0.9
Highway 97 7 C 2.4 7.6 22.04 106.7 167.8
P 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.1 1.4
Leavenworth 8 C 2.6 7.6 16.04 28.8 72.2
P 8 10.1 18.4 29.8 77.7

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Psylla Eggs per Leaf (Summer)

Table 2. Pear psylla eggs per leaf paired orchards (C = conventional, P = phenology-based IPM, O = organic). Dates represent the week of the sample. Cells with “–” indicate no sample due to site inaccessibility or re-entry intervals.

PP eggs/leaf 8/22 8/29 9/5 9/19 10/3
Rock Island 1 C 0.02 0.3 0.1 0.02 0
P 0.2 0.1 0 0 0
Monitor 2 C 0.8 1.4 3.9 4.4 0.1
P 0.4 0.7 0.4 0.3 0.04
Cashmere 3 C 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.5 0.08
P 0 0.8 0 0.08 0.1
O 0.1 0.6 0.2 0.1 0
Dryden 4 C 0.1 1.1 1.4 0.4 0.2
P 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.4 0.2
Dryden 5 C 0.4 0.2 1 0.7 0.1
P 0.3 0.1 1.3 0.2 0.02
O 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.02 0.1
Peshastin 6 C 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2
P 0.6 0.1 0 0.1 0.1
O 1.5 0.2 0 0.1 0.06
Highway 97 7 C 1.8 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.02
P 0.1 0.1 0.2 0 0.02
Leavenworth 8 C 0.2 0 0.7 0.2 0.02
P 0.4 0 0.5 0.2 0

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Psylla Nymphs per Leaf (Summer)

Table 3. Pear psylla nymphs per leaf paired orchards (C = conventional, P = phenology-based IPM, O = organic). Dates represent the week of the sample. Cells with “–” indicate no sample due to site inaccessibility or re-entry intervals.

PP nymphs/leaf 8/22 8/29 9/5 9/19 10/3
Rock Island 1 C 0.3 0.5 1.2 0.8 0.3
P 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.1 0
Monitor 2 C 2.4 1.7 3.3 9.5 1.6
P 2.3 0.5 0.7 1.08 0.3
Cashmere 3 C 0.8 0.3 0.9 0.9 1
P 0.8 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.2
O 2.2 0.3 0.9 0.3 0.2
Dryden 4 C 1.5 0.5 0.7 1.9 1.9
P 0.5 1.3 2 2.06 1.3
Dryden 5 C 0.6 1.8 5.01 0.9 1.4
P 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.07 0.5
O 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.1
Peshastin 6 C 0.5 0 1.01 0.7 0.5
P 2.4 0 0.4 0.3 0.1
O 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.2 0.08
Highway 97 7 C 2.1 1.5 0.5 4.4 1.08
P 0.1 0.1 0.06 0.06 0.2
Leavenworth 8 C 2.6 3.4 2.9 0.8 0.6
P 3.2 2.9 4.06 1.9 0.4

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Natural Enemies (Summer)

Table 4. Natural enemies (Deraeocoris nymphs and adults, Trechnites wasps,  Camplylomma nymphs and adults, and green lacewings) per 25 trays at paired orchards (C = conventional, P = phenology-based IPM, O = organic). Dates represent the week of the sample. Cells with “–” indicate no sample due to site inaccessibility or re-entry intervals.

NEs/tray 8/29 9/5 9/19 10/3 10/17
Rock Island 1 C 0.1 0.4 0.2 0.04 0.2
P 0.2 0.6 0.04 0.04 0
Monitor 2 C 0.2 0.3 0.7 0.4 0.2
P 0.6 0.7 0.2 0.4 0.3
Cashmere 3 C 0 0 0.02 0 0
P 0.4 0.6 0.7 0.5 0.2
O 0.6 0.5 0.7 0.5 0.08
Dryden 4 C 0 0 0 0 0
P 0 0 0.04 0 0
Dryden 5 C 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.5 0.3
P 0.1 0.06 0 0 0
O 0.4 0.4 0.9 0.2 0.04
Peshastin 6 C 0.2 0.08 0.1 0 0.04
P 0.9 1.04 0.9 0.1 0
O 1.4 1.2 1.1 0.2 0
Highway 97 7 C 0.1 0.08 0 0.08 0
P 0.6 0.6 1.1 0.2 0
Leavenworth 8 C 0 0.04 0 0 0
P 1 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.2

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Mites (Summer)

Table 5. Total Two-spotted spider mites per leaf at paired orchards (C = conventional, P = phenology-based IPM, O = organic). Dates represent the week of the sample. Cells with “–” indicate no sample due to site inaccessibility or re-entry intervals.

TSM/leaf 8/22 8/29 9/5 9/19 10/3
Rock Island 1 C 0.02 0 0 0 0
P 0 0 0.03 0 0
Monitor 2 C 0 0.4 0.1 0.06 0
P 0 0.06 0.01 0 0
Cashmere 3 C 0 0 0.01 0.01 0
P 0.06 1 0.3 4.6 4.04
O 0.4 0.7 0.5 2.2 0.3
Dryden 4 C 0.2 0.2 0.8 0.5 0.5
P 3.08 4.9 1.9 1 1
Dryden 5 C 0 0.1 2.2 0.1 1.5
P 0.04 0.02 0.4 0.8 1
O 35 3.3 1.5 0 0.04
Peshastin 6 C 0.7 0 0.06 0.3 0.5
P 0.1 0 0.01 0.01 0
O 0.4 0.02 0.7 0.6 0.1
Highway 97 7 C 0.04 0.06 0.02 0.06 0.06
P 0 0 0 0 0
Leavenworth 8 C 2.2 0.7 5 1.9 0.5
P 0 0 0.08 0.08 0.06

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Earwigs (Summer)

Table 6. Total Earwigs per cardboard at paired orchards (C = conventional, P = phenology-based IPM, O = organic). Dates represent the week of the sample. Cells with “–” indicate no sample due to site inaccessibility or re-entry intervals.

Earwigs 7/4 8/5 9/5
Rock Island 1 C 1.0 1.75 1.8
P 36.8 7.8 24
Monitor 2 C 0 0 0
P 0 0 0
Cashmere 3 C 0 0 0
P 0.2 1.6 2.8
O 0.2 0 1.0
Dryden 4 C 0 0 0
P 0 0 0
Dryden 5 C 0 0 0
P 0 0 0.2
O 2.6 4.4 3.6
Peshastin 6 C 0 0 *
P 0 0 *
O 0 0 *
Highway 97 7 C 0 0 0
P 0 0 0
Leavenworth 8 C 0.2 0.8 0.3
P 0 0.2 0

*site will be counted next week

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Anjou Damage Assessment

Table 7. Anjou damage assessment: percentage fruit downgraded from pear psylla damage (C = conventional standard, P = phenology based IPM, O = organic). We inspected 100 fruit per orchard.
Average US 1: 86% conventional; 84% phenology; 66% organic

Honeydew marking/CM US1 Fancy 3rd Grade Cull Codling moth
Rock Island 1 C 98 2 0 0 0
P 100 0 0 0 1
Monitor 2 C 88 12 0 0 0
P 97 3 0 0 0
Cashmere 3 C 96 4 0 0 0
P 87 12 1 0 0
O 88 11 1 0 0
Dryden 4 C 92 8 0 0 0
P 79 21 0 0 0
Dryden 5 C 87 11 2 1 0
P 88 10 2 0 0
O 84 16 0 0 0
Peshastin 6 C 94 6 0 0 0
P 79 21 0 0 0
O 50 47 3 0 0
Highway 97 7 C 90 9 1 0 0
P 100 0 0 0 0
Leavenworth 8 C 94 6 0 0 0
P 82 18 0 0 0

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Links

All data from the project are publicly stored

Site-by-site summary graphs

There is a sign-up link for these weekly updates you can feel free to share

 

Spring Sampling Summary (March through May)

Figure 3. Summary of pear psylla adults per tray, eggs per flower cluster, and nymphs per flower cluster. Means among sites (N = 8 Conventional, 8 Phenology, and 3 Organic orchards) per sample week are represented by points with standard error bars. Flower clusters inspected consisted of dormant flower buds, green tissues after budbreak, or three leaves and flower pedicels per cluster once leaves were expanded.

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Figure 4. Spring 2022 scouting summary, conventional vs phenology.

 

 

Contact Information

Robert Orpet

Dr. Robert Orpet
Postdoctoral Research Associate
WSU Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center
1100 N Western Ave., Wenatchee, WA 98801
robert.orpet@wsu.edu

Chris McCullough

Dr. Chris McCullough
Postdoctoral Research Associate
WSU Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center
1100 N Western Ave., Wenatchee, WA 98801
christopher.t.mccul@wsu.edu

Louie Nottingham

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Dr. Louis Nottingham
Assistant Professor
WSU Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center
1100 N Western Ave., Wenatchee, WA 98801
louis.nottingham@wsu.edu
540-798-2044 (cell)

Molly Sayles
PhD student
WSU Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center
1100 N Western Ave., Wenatchee, WA 98801
molly.sayles@wsu.edu

This Project was Funded by:

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