Vertical Integration in Pepper Pest Management Charles Mellinger

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Vertical Integration in Pepper Pest Management Charles Mellinger Ph. D Glades Crop Care, Inc

Vertical Integration in Pepper Pest Management Charles Mellinger Ph. D Glades Crop Care, Inc Jupiter, Florida August 29, 2008

IPM and Multiple Pests n My talk today: Managing 2 or more pests on

IPM and Multiple Pests n My talk today: Managing 2 or more pests on the same plant with conflicting control choices. Pepper example: WFT and pepper weevil PEW controls—Vydate & pyrethroids—eliminate Orius and explode WFT controls—spinosad/spinetoram, Beleaf, & Orius

Pesticide Choice Conflict PEW WFT

Pesticide Choice Conflict PEW WFT

How reduce conflict? Eliminate PEW hosts n Introduce Catalaccus parasitoids into nightshade (NS) n

How reduce conflict? Eliminate PEW hosts n Introduce Catalaccus parasitoids into nightshade (NS) n Use least-toxic PEW’icides n Monitor movement PEW with traps n GPS GIS mapping of PEW and NS n

Dropped Fruit

Dropped Fruit

Pepper Weevil Management Situation: PEW is the system driver Controlled by frequent and heavy

Pepper Weevil Management Situation: PEW is the system driver Controlled by frequent and heavy doses of carbamates and pyrethroids Results: Elevated resistance to oxamyl No beneficial activity Not sustainable Anthonomas eugenii

Mean Percent Pepper Weevil Fruit Loss Over the Last 4 Years – Not Acceptable!

Mean Percent Pepper Weevil Fruit Loss Over the Last 4 Years – Not Acceptable! Nov-10% Jan-25% Nov-8% Jan-20% Nov-6% Feb-27% Nov-4% Feb-32% Dec-5% Mar-24% Dec-7% Mar-22% Dec-6% Mar-34% Dec-8% Mar-37%

Pepper Weevil Management Insights and Innovation: Determined alternate host is nightshade Partial solution: attempt

Pepper Weevil Management Insights and Innovation: Determined alternate host is nightshade Partial solution: attempt to eliminate nightshade New tool -- Catolaccus to parasitize PEW eggs Program: Release Catolaccus into nightshade reservoir for reduced PEW populations

Area-wide Pest Management in Action: PEW movement mid season, 2001 -2002 Farm A Farm

Area-wide Pest Management in Action: PEW movement mid season, 2001 -2002 Farm A Farm C Farm B PEW trap counts >20 11 -20 5 -10 1 -4 0

Season-end PEW Movement Impacted by Areas of Nightshade Pepper Farm A Pepper Farm C

Season-end PEW Movement Impacted by Areas of Nightshade Pepper Farm A Pepper Farm C Weevils/trap >20 11 -20 5 -10 1 -4 0 Pepper Farm B Areas of nightshade

Mean Percent Pepper Weevil Fruit Loss in 2002 -2003 – Prevention Works! Nov-0. 5%

Mean Percent Pepper Weevil Fruit Loss in 2002 -2003 – Prevention Works! Nov-0. 5% Jan-2% Nov-1% Jan-2% Nov-0% Feb-2% Dec-1% Mar-2% Dec-2% Mar-1% Dec-3% Mar-1% Dec-2% Mar-0%

Results Summary 2000 -2002: High infestations n 2003: 45% reduction n 2004: 64% reduction

Results Summary 2000 -2002: High infestations n 2003: 45% reduction n 2004: 64% reduction n 2005: 76% reduction n

Final Result: Control of PEW and WFT Use 3 -tiered system to reduce PEW

Final Result: Control of PEW and WFT Use 3 -tiered system to reduce PEW population available for crop n Monitor PEW outside and inside crop n Use least toxic insecticides n Monitor and identify thrips population in crop and surrounding vegetation n

Thank You! See www. ggc. com for more information Contact me at 561 -746

Thank You! See www. ggc. com for more information Contact me at 561 -746 -3740 cmellinger@Glades. Crop. Care. com