LIGHT BROWN APPLE MOTH
In February of 2007 California Department of Food and Agriculture, CDFA, found the first infestation of Light Brown Apple Moth in Monterey County. Since that time Light Brown Apple Moth has been found and a quarantine enacted in all or part of the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Solano. Eradication efforts, using Checkmate, a mating disruption pheromone, has been successful in Los Angeles and Napa Counties which are no longer under quarantine.
Light Brown Apple Moth has host list of over 2,000 plants. Some of the most notable trees are Apple, pear, peach, apricot, nectarine, citrus, persimmons, cherry, almond, avocado, and walnut. Some common shrubs and herbaceous hosts are grapes, berries, corn, pepper, tomato, pumpkin, bean, rose, Camilla, and chrysanthemums.
Presently other counties of the state, other U.S. States and foreign countries has placed a quarantine on all host material coming from the infested areas of California. Allowing host material to move only after it has met certain safeguards. I’m sure we can all understand the potential costs that would be associated with our foods if almost all of California food crops had to meet the safeguards before being allowed to be shipped.
What can us as members of CGCI do? If you live outside of the quarantine areas just be aware of the situation and do not accept any plant material from a non commercial source from within the quarantine area. Those living in the quarantine area should not take any quarantine material out of the area to give to friends or relatives. Should you have a flower show in or near the quarantine areas I urge you to contact California Department of Food and Agriculture (800-491-1899 Ext 0) before the show. They will work with you so that your show will not be the cause of disseminating this pest. The last thing any of us would want is for CGCI or one of its clubs to be accused of disseminating this pest to other parts of the state or country.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me or CDFA.
Richard Gaspari
Insect Chairman
Nematodes
Let Natural Predators Do the Work
by Virginia S. Carlson
We tend to think of nematodes as destructive of plants, but two families of these microscopic, eellike worms also destroy insects, particularly larval forms. Some juvenile forms of nematodes invade through a wound or natural opening and release bacteria which poison the host's blood. It then feeds on the bacteria and host, molts, matures, produces another generation or two until the host is used up. These creatures can be cultured in the laboratory and are safe for humans, pets and earthworms.
The range of insects they can infect includes fleas, fungus gnats, cutworms, sod webworms, Colorado potato beetles, and root weevils. Because they parasitize only the larvae or pupal stages of insects, nematodes must be applied at the proper time. Mid to late spring is a good time for many insects are then in the larval stage. They are sensitive to moisture and temperature so they must be applied in the early evening when nights stay above the mid 50's. The soil should be watered the day before and kept moist for another 24 hours. If soil has a good crumb structure, they can penetrate more easily.
When purchased, nematodes arrive packaged in a gel, sponge or in clay. They are released into a bucket of water and should be applied within an hour to prevent drowning. Any nozzletype sprayer can be used to apply at the base of the plants, lawn or into holes created by borers. Water will deliver the nematodes to the root zone where they may attack. A soil treatment is good for one year. They die out when there are no hosts in which to live. Sometimes it is possible to get them in vermiculite or peat used as a mulch. The predators are then hoed or watered in.
Virginia is a Master Judge, a certified NCSGC instructor, a Rosarian and a Master Gardener.
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