Biopesticides
The weevil plum curculio is one of the most damaging insects in pome and stone fruit. Our focus on biopesticides is one of our responses to the limitations growers are facing in managing plum curculio. Biopesticides, in particular insect pathogenic fungi and nematodes, offer the opportunity to attack the previously untargeted soil dwelling life stages of plum curculio and can be integrated in a management program with other organic or conventional chemical controls which tend to focus on the adult life stage. We are examining field efficacy, while gaining critical insight into the phenology and behavior of summer generation plum curculio to aid in management decisions.
We are cooperating with Dr. Diane Alston at Utah State University to develop these strategies in Michigan. See more at http://www.cherries.msu.edu/pdf/OrchardShow08Alston.pdf
Dr. David Shapiro-Ilan at USDA ARS and others have been actively researching nematodes for suppressing plum curculio and other pests in Southeastern US. See more at http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm?seq_no_115=212078
Posters and Presentations
Managing Plum Curculio in Tree Fruit with Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Fungi