Sacramento Valley Almond PMA Update

May 25, 2000

We had a very successful and well attended field meeting on May 24, 2000 in Butte County. Refreshments were provided by CAFF and the speakers covered a variety of topics. We displayed examples of san jose scale crawlers, European fruit lecanium, europoean fruit lecanium parasites, oblique-banded leafroller damage, and examples of almond diseases. Our speakers and topics included:

Carolyn Pickel spoke about the lifecycles and treatments for Oblique-banded leafroller and European fruit lecanium,

Nicole Darby spoke about the monitoring of the Almond PMA orchard,

Rick Buchner demonstrated the day-degree model and the importance of keeping records of the pests in orchards,

Joe Connell described and exhibited examples of almond diseases which are being seen this season, and

Terry Prichard spoke of the importance of proper irrigation of young trees.

We are currently monitoring for peach twig borer, san jose scale, san jose scale parasites, and navel orangeworm. We will begin to monitor for ants and mites soon as well as coordinate a site and program for our satellite project. As of this week, 5/22, peach twig borer counts are relatively high, but we have not observed any shoot strikes. After two attempts to discover peach twig borer shoot strikes, we have come up with zeroes in all four of our treatments. We have found very few oriental fruit moth shoot strikes but no peach twig borer. We have not trapped any san jose scale in pheromone traps since April 10. However, we continue to find many san jose scale parasites, Prospaltella and Aphytis, in the pheromone traps. We have detected very few navel orangeworm eggs on the egg traps.

We have populations of European fruit lecanium in the treatments that did not receive a dormant spray. This pest was seen in our dormant spur samples and the crawlers are now found on the branches of the trees. Despite noticing this pest, we are also seeing parasite exit holes.

So far this season, we have not noticed any substantial outbreaks of diseases. We do have some shot-hole, however, it is not substantial.