Fruit Bites September 22-24 Curating

BL: Welcome back to another “Fruit Bites” brought to you by Valent U.S.A. Joining us again is Valent’s Allison Walston. And this week Allison, we want to promote beneficial insects into your orchard systems?

AW: Well, first, ask yourself if you’re willing to let the beneficial insects have some food. That means allowing pest populations to be present or having alternative food sources nearby. Allow some pear psylla to keep Deraeocoris around. Plant rose bushes nearby to encourage leafroller parasitoids. Keep apple rust mites for a western predatory mite snack. Some growers even release green lacewings in their orchards.

BL: Okay, so, trying to keep prey for the predators to eat. What else?

AW: Next, consider the impact of broad-spectrum insecticides (both organic and conventional) and avoid using in the middle of summer when predators are at their peak. Local spray guides have impact ratings on beneficial insects. Plan a pest management program somewhere in the middle of total desert to dripping mess. It might take a couple of years to reach an equilibrium.

BL: Well, thanks Allison. Join us again next time for Fruit Bites, brought to you by Valent. Until then, I’m Bob Larson.