Journal Article

IPM for Psylla Using Kaolin and Reflective Mulch

Integrated Pest Management Programs for Pear Psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola (Förster) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), Using Kaolin Clay and Reflective Plastic Mulch September 1, 2022 Pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola (Förster) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), is the most economically important pest of pears grown in Washington State. Standard conventional management programs involve season-long broad-spectrum insecticide sprays. Although the industry uses some […]

Plant Defense Elicitors

November 18, 2021 Test of plant defense elicitors for arthropod pest suppression and PR-1 gene induction in pear orchards Plant defense elicitors (PDEs) are chemicals that stimulate plant defenses against pathogens and herbivores. Previous work shows that PDEs acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) and harpinab protein (harpin) can induce the pathogenesis-related gene PR-1 in plants and suppress herbivorous […]

Dusky Slug in Field Corn and Soybean

June 2, 2021 Ambient moisture causes methomyl residues on corn plants to rapidly lose toxicity to the pest slug, Arion subfuscus, Müller (Gastropoda, Stylommatophora) The carbamate insecticide methomyl is sometimes used to control slugs in field corn and soybean by foliar applications, but control outcomes in research trials and commercial operations have been mixed. In […]

dark brown slug on a green leaf

Evaluation of IPM for central WA pear orchards

February 9, 2021 IPM for Central WA Pear Orchards Pear psylla and honeydew marking to fruit cause significant economic damage to pears in Washington, a key pear growing region of the United States. The goal of this project is to compare an integrated pest management (IPM) program using materials which selectively target pests and relies […]

article title and abstract in the journal biological control

Reflective mulch for pear psylla

November 19, 2020 New Publication! Pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola (Förster), has remained the most challenging pest of commercial pears in Washington and Oregon, the top producers of pears in the United States. The lack of effective integrated pest management tactics for this pest has been a major barrier to effective management. In this study, we […]

two people working in a pear orchard with reflective mulch