Preserving Biocontrol Agents

Tuesday Apr 22, 2025

Natural enemies (NE) are crucial to the long-term stability of management programs. Pesticides need to be chosen not only on the basis of efficacy against the pests, but also by minimizing their effect on natural enemies. DAS provides both the effects on pests and on the key natural enemies.

Factors Affecting Bee Pollination of Tree Fruits

Tuesday Apr 15, 2025

Nearly 1,000 species of bees occur in the Pacific Northwest, but only a small number of species are useful in the pollination of orchard crops. Pesticide use and loss of appropriate nesting habitat have reduced the numbers of wild bee pollinators, leaving most of the pollination for commercial orchards dependent on honeybees. The success of honeybee pollination in tree fruits is affected by a number of factors, which in part can be manipulated by orchardists and beekeepers.

Leafroller Sampling Made Easier

Tuesday Apr 15, 2025

Leafrollers are nearly impossible to sample when they are in the first 2-3 instars because they are so small. DAS provides intervals during which sampling should occur well ahead of time. To sample leafrollers...

How to Effectively Manage Codling Moth

Tuesday Apr 08, 2025

Without any intervention, codling moth numbers increase about four-fold from generation to generation. Therefore, targeting the first generation is important to reset the population size to a minimum. Control measures for subsequent generations can be adjusted to the local pest pressure indicated by trap counts.

Degree-Day Models

Tuesday Apr 08, 2025

Have you ever wondered why different pests have different degree-day sums? Here is why: