California Agriculture (Nov 2000)

Mass releases of wasps can reduce damage from codling moth

  • N Mills,
  • C Pickel,
  • S Mansfield,
  • S McDougall,
  • R Buchner,
  • J Caprile - Emeritus,
  • J Edstrom,
  • R Elkins,
  • J Hasey,
  • K Kelley,
  • B Krueger,
  • B Olson,
  • R Stocker

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 54, no. 6

Abstract

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Mass releases of commercially produced Trichogramma wasps can be used to reduce damage from codling moth by 60% in walnut and pome fruit orchards in California. Results from field trials indicate that release rate and evenness of distribution are important factors influencing the effectiveness of wasp releases, and that damage reduction is more effective in walnuts and pears than in apples. Because the environmental risks of large-scale releases of Trichogramma wasps are likely to be small, wasp releases could be integrated with pheromone-based mating disruption for effective management of codling moth.