David Doll0 commentsJune 28, 2020Insects, Technology

Technology Corner: Spear-Lep w/Vestaron

EDITOR’S NOTE: This entry is the first in a new and (hopefully) ongoing series to highlight new technology related to almond and tree nut production. The question/answer format is set to focus more on the technical aspects and application of the technology. Since we are approaching hull-split, I thought a reasonable place to start would be with Vestaron, a company which recently released a new class of insecticides.Thanks to Noel Cornejo for taking the time to answer my questions. Question (Q): Spear-Lep is a new group of insecticides that has been shown to be effective on lepidopteran pests, such as peach twig borer, codling moth, and navel orangeworm. What is the active ingredient and how does this product work? Answer (A): The active ingredient is an insecticidal peptide called GS-omega/kappa-Hxtx-Hv1a. It was carefully optimized to target the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in the insect nervous system, but at a receptor site distinct from Spinosad and neonicotinoids. The end result is paralysis of the lepidopteran larvae that ingest it. Q. Is this product directly toxic to insect pests? Or does it have to be consumed? How is the activity on developing larvae (may have been answered above)? A. For lepidopteran pests Spear works through ingestion. Extensive studies confirm activity against neonates as well as later instars of all species tested to date. At high v/v concentrations, Spear works though topical contact against smaller, soft-bodied pests such as mites, thrips and whiteflies. Q. How is this product different from what is currently on the market and is there any efficacy data comparisons among the various products on the market?  A. This novel class of insecticidal peptide is the first of its kind. Identified in nature, and then optimized painstakingly in the lab, Vestaron’s peptide insecticides are designed to target neuromuscular receptors proven through

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Franz Niederholzer4 CommentsJuly 17, 2015Insects

Good Spray Coverage: Watch the Air

Written by: Franz Niederholzer, UCCE Farm Advisor, Colusa and Sutter/Yuba Counties and Luke Milliron, UCCE Horticulture Intern Good spray coverage is vital to effective pest control.  Nowhere is this truer than for NOW control at hull split.  Excessive sprayer speed kills spray coverage, especially in the tree tops.  But is there a simple way to figure out how fast to drive a sprayer to deliver good coverage in the tree tops while getting across the orchard in a timely manner?  Yes, watch the air.  Since airblast sprayers use forced air from the sprayer fan to carry pesticides throughout the tree, if the air from the sprayer fan(s) reaches the top of the canopy, the pesticide spray should get there, too. The following is a simple way to evaluate sprayer air movement in the canopy tops at different ground speeds.  Free hanging surveyors tape makes a great air movement indicator.  Tie 12-24” of surveyors tape to the top of a length of PVC pipe threaded through the branches in the middle of the tree row into the tree tops.  [Another option is to use a pruning tower to get up in the tree tops and tie several lengths of tape onto the highest shoots.]  Fill the sprayer half full of water, turn on the pump, close the spray booms, and run the sprayer down the row at a set speed with the fan on at operating tractor RPMs.  Have someone record a video of the movement of the tape(s) in the tree tops with a smart phone or iPad.  Review the video after the spray moves past the pole.  Did the tape move at all?  If no, then the sprayer air didn’t reach the tape, and neither will pesticide.  The sprayer needs to drive slower, or you need a sprayer with a larger

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David Doll1 CommentApril 12, 2013Insects

Managing Mites in Almonds with Abamectin

Written By David Haviland, Kern County UCCE Entomology Advisor For more than a decade abamectin has played a key role in mite management programs in California almonds.  When applied properly, early-season abamectin treatments typically provide good mite control through hull split, and in some cases throughout the season.  Unfortunately, recent reductions in the cost of abamectin have led to unnecessary use, and sometimes abuse, of abamectin-based products.  This has led to more and more cases of unsatisfactory mite control at a time when mite management has taken an elevated importance due to increased adoption of pyrethroids for control of navel orangeworm.  This article covers several considerations that should be made while using abamectin to insure that it works effectively and consistently. 

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