The Decision to Use Mating Disruption For Navel Orange Worm

The Decision to Use Mating Disruption For Navel Orange Worm

Patrick Cavanaugh
Patrick Cavanaugh
Mating disruption for navel orange worm has been proven the work in most orchards.

David Havilland is an entomologist farm advisor for the UCANR Cooperative Extension Kern County. He talks about mating disruption for most orchards.

“So when you’re trying to decide if mating disruption makes sense for you, the first thing to think about is the orchard. Is it big or small,” asked Haviland

What has been shown is that 40 acres or above, mating disruption works so long the orchard is square or rectangular shaped. If it’s smaller than 40 acres, then there is a concern about the efficacy of mating disruption. If it’s bigger than 40 acres, then the more the merrier.

“And then economics, if a grower is in the one and a half percent damage every year, that's about the break. If you get more damage than that, you absolutely are going to get more back for your investment by implementing main disruption along with your, your standard program, “ noted Haviland.

“At the same time, if a grower has typically a half a percent damage, maybe 1% each year, that's a case where adding mating disruption to your existing program economically may not make sense. But that's where you can start removing sprays from your program and replacing insecticides and our data shows that you can maintain the same low levels by implementing main disruption and pulling back some sprays as you would by spraying alone.” Haviland explained

“So there's a fit for everybody. It's just figuring out, orchard by orchard, what that fit might be,” he said.

It's recommended that you talk to your pest control advisor to find out more information on how mating disruption can work in your orchard.

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