Sterile Insect Technology for Navel Orangeworm

Sterile Insect Technology for Navel Orangeworm

Patrick Cavanaugh
Patrick Cavanaugh
Navel orangeworm is a serious pest, but sterile insect technology may help growers control it. Randy Mohler is a PCA working for Stanislaus Farm Supply in Modesto.

He comments on that sterile insect technology strategy, on where the strategy will fit.

“It's going to have a fit around schools and where there's urban, rural interface, said Mohler Yes. “We need to research that that's not been the traditional approach, but it's definitely a tool and it's going to have its fit. It's not a standalone answer for every place across the board yet. I mean, it would be nice if it gets there, but there's some big time research going on and we'll see how that pans out at the end of the season.”

The idea is to sterilize both male and female navel orangeworm Moths and then released them over treenut acreage. If the moths were to mate with another navel Orangeworm moth it would not produce any eggs, thus dramatically lowering navel orangeworm population.

“I know where a couple of those studies are being done and we'll have results this year. It will not tell the whole story, but we'll definitely have results. It's a practice that needs to continue in a study that needs to continue. At this point. It's not going to carry the load, but the research needs to go on,” Mohler said.

In more news domestic market movement up pistachios has been outstanding. We're looking at the period from the new crop year, which started in September 1st, 2019 through the current period. In fact, it’s on par with last year's record setting pace.

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