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How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines


Peach twig borer larva (right) and pupa (left).

Almond

Peach Twig Borer

Scientific name: Anarsia lineatella

(Reviewed 1/05, updated 1/05)

In this Guideline:


DESCRIPTION OF THE PEST

Peach twig borer is a major pest in several tree crops. Adult moths have steel gray mottled forewings. Females lay eggs on twigs, fruit, and leaves. Eggs hatch in 4 to 18 days. Larvae are small, brown caterpillars with white intersegmental bands and a black head capsule. They go through four to five instars. Overwintering larvae are sheltered in tiny cells (hibernacula) that they bore under the bark of limb crotches on 1- to 4-year-old wood or in bark cracks on larger limbs and the trunk. Pupae are dark brown, without a cocoon and are found in tree crevices, between hull and shell, curled leaves, or in debris on the ground. There are four generations per year.

DAMAGE

Larvae damage both growing shoots and nuts, causing shallow channels and surface grooves on the nutmeat. Peach twig borer damage can be masked by navel orangeworm feeding, which often occurs on nuts previously damaged by peach twig borer.

MANAGEMENT

Some orchards will require a treatment for peach twig borer. Use past history or harvest samples to determine if your orchard will require treatment. Preferred treatment timing is at bloom. Treatments during the dormant season with environmentally sound insecticides such as spinosad (Entrust, Success) and diflubenzuron (Dimilin) are also acceptable. Avoid applications of organophosphates during the dormant season as these applications threaten water quality when they run off during winter rainfall. At the beginning of bloom, monitor hibernacula to determine when larvae are emerging. Place pheromone traps out around April 1, and monitor for shoot strikes to catch any inseason problems.

Biological Control

Peach twig borer has about 30 species of natural enemies. Among those commonly found in California are the chalcid wasps,Paralitomastix varicornis and Hyperteles lividus. In some years and orchards, these natural enemies destroy a significant portion of larvae, but they may not reduce twig borer populations below economically damaging levels. Ants, Formica spp., also can be found preying on peach twig borer larvae.

Organically Acceptable Methods

The use of Bacillus thuringiensis or spinosad (Entrust) sprays at bloom, preceded by a delayed dormant oil treatment for the control of scale and mite eggs are organically acceptable methods of managing this pest.

Monitoring and Treatment Decisions     Degree-day calculator    Degree-day table

Peach twig borer can be successfully managed with environmentally sound insecticides such as spinosad (Entrust, Success), diflubenzuron (Dimilin), Bacillus thuringiensis, methoxyfenozide (Intrepid), and tebufenozide (Confirm). Although dormant treatments with organophosphate insecticides are effective and easy to time, they should be avoided because of their potential negative impacts on water quality.

Bloom sprays. To effectively time bloom sprays, monitor to determine when larvae are emerging from overwintering hibernacula on limb crotches or on tree trunks. The first application must be made when 20 to 40% of larvae have emerged and the second application 7 to 10 days later or when 80 to 100% of larvae have emerged from overwintering hibernacula. If emergence is spread out, a third spray may be needed when emergence finally reaches 80 to 100%. A less precise method is to time sprays to popcorn and 7-10 days later, unless there is an extended bloom period in which case a third application may be needed.

Peach twig borer can be very damaging to developing scaffolds in orchards that are between 1 and 3 years old, so bloom sprays for peach twig borer are recommended when peach twig borers are present and a dormant spray has not been applied.

Spring sprays. Spring sprays are usually not needed if the dormant spray or bloom spray has been successful or there is not history of peach twig borer problems. If broad-spectrum insecticides are applied in May, they can cause outbreaks of mites and other secondary pests. Softer pesticides (spinosad-Entrust, Success; methoxyfenozide-Intrepid; diflubenzuron-Dimilin; and tebufenozide-Confirm) have recently become available that have less impact on natural enemies. Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) sprays can also be used at this time.

Monitor trees of any age for shoot strikes in April. Shoot strikes are easiest to see on young trees and on water sprouts. If several strikes are seen in each tree by mid-April, a spring spray timed with pheromone traps and degree-days may be required. When examining shoot strikes, determine if they are caused by peach twig borer or oriental fruit moth by looking for the larvae. Although oriental fruit moth larvae mine deeper into a shoot than peach twig borer larvae, distinguishing the damage can be difficult. Cut the shoot lengthwise to find the larva and identify it: oriental fruit moth larvae are white or pink with a brown head and peach twig borer larvae are dark brown with white portions between each body segment and a black head. Also, peach twig borer shoot strikes occur earlier in the season than do oriental fruit moth strikes.

Use pheromone traps and degree-days to time a May spray. Place peach twig borer pheromone traps in orchards, one per 20 acres (but never less than two traps in smaller orchards) by March 20 in the southern Central Valley and April 1 in northern areas. Hang traps 6 to 7 feet high in the northern quadrant of the tree, 1 to 3 feet from the outer canopy. Monitor twice a week; replace pheromone caps at the interval recommended by the manufacturer and trap bottoms after 100 moths have been counted and removed. Optimum timing for first generation larvae (the May spray) is between 400 and 500 degree-days after the first male is trapped in April when using spinosad (Entrust, Success) or the organophosphates; when using the IGR's (Intrepid, Confirm) make the application at 300-400 degree-days; and when applying B.t., make two applications: one at 300 DD and the next at 500 DD. Accumulate degree-days for peach twig borer using a lower threshold of 50°F and an upper threshold of 88°F. (For assistance in calculating degree-days, see "Degree-days" on the UC IPM Web site).

If navel orangeworm is also a problem, it may be possible to time the May spray to control both pests if navel orangeworm egg hatch occurs at about the same time as optimum time for the peach twig borer spray. If not, wait and spray the navel orangeworm at hull split and time the May spray for peach twig borer. (Control of peach twig borer during hull split is difficult.)

Common name Amount/Acre** P.H.I.+
(trade name) (conc.) (dilute) (days)

  DORMANT
A. SPINOSAD      
  (Entrust)# 1.25-3 oz 0.3-0.75 oz  
  (Success) 4-8 oz 1-2 oz  
  COMMENTS: Apply with a narrow range oil to suppress overwintering mite and scale populations.
         
B. NARROW RANGE OIL      
  (Superior, Supreme) 4-8 gal 1.5-2 gal  
  COMMENTS: Cover all parts of the tree. Do not use oil on water-stressed trees or following periods of dry winds.
  . . . PLUS. . .
  DIFLUBENZURON*      
  (Dimilin) 2L 16 oz 4 oz  
  COMMENTS: Apply at volume sufficient to ensure good coverage.
  . . . OR. . .
  DIAZINON*      
  50WP 4 lb 1 lb  
  4EC 2 qt 0.5 qt  
  COMMENTS: Follow best management practices to prevent off-site movement of this material into waterways. Using a reduced rate of diazinon (1 lb a.i./acre concentrate or 0.5 lb a.i./acre dilute) in the dormant spray gives acceptable control of peach twig borer. The reduced rate is not recommended if San Jose scale is present or if control of peach twig borer with the full rate has been a problem in the past. Avoid runoff or drift into surface waters or choose alternative materials. Diazinon has been found in surface waters at levels that violate federal and state water quality standards. Avoid use where possible.
  . . . OR. . .      
  METHIDATHION*      
  (Supracide) 25W 4 lb 1 lb  
  COMMENTS: Do not apply more than once/dormant season.
  . . . OR. . .      
  CHLORPYRIFOS*      
  (Lorsban) 4E 2 qt 1 pt  
  COMMENTS: Apply concentrate spray with a minimum of 100 gal/acre. Do not apply in the following counties: Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Solano, Sutter, Tehama, Yolo, and Yuba. Follow best management practices to prevent off site movement of this material into waterways. Do not use more than 4 gal narrow range oil/acre, apply more than once during dormant season, or allow meat or dairy animals to graze in treated orchards. Do not apply until winter rains or irrigation has replenished soil moisture. Avoid runoff or drift into surface waters or choose alternative materials. Chlorpyrifos has been found in surface waters at levels that violate federal and state water quality standards. Avoid use where possible.
  . . . OR. . .      
  PHOSMET      
  (Imidan) 70WP 4 lb 1 lb  
  COMMENTS: Can be used where label restrictions prevent use of other organophosphates.
         
C. ESFENVALERATE*      
  (Asana XL) 4-8 oz 1-2 oz  
         
  DELAYED DORMANT
A. DIFLUBENZURON*      
  (Dimilin) 2L 12 oz 3 oz  
  COMMENTS: Apply in sufficient water to ensure good coverage. Apply with a narrow range oil at 1.5% oil by volume.
         
  BLOOM
A. BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS ssp. KURSTAKI#
  (various products) Label rates  
  COMMENTS: Best if applied by ground because thorough coverage of the shoot tips is essential. If it must be applied by air because of wet ground or other factors that preclude ground spray, fly about 20 ft over the tree canopy to allow better spray deposition on tree tops. Make 2 applications during bloom: the first between popcorn and the beginning of bloom, and the second 7-10 days later, but no later than petal fall. Compatible with fungicide sprays. Will not control San Jose scale or European red mite eggs, or other pests normally controlled with organophosphates during the dormant or delayed dormant periods. Oil applied without an organophosphate during the dormant period helps control secondary pests such as San Jose scale and mites if these pests are of concern.
   
B. DIFLUBENZURON*      
  (Dimilin) 2L 12 oz 3 oz  
  COMMENTS: Apply by 20% bloom with 0.25% light summer oil by volume. Apply at sufficient volume to ensure good coverage.
         
C. METHOXYFENOZIDE      
  (Intrepid) 2F 2 pt 14
  COMMENTS: Apply by 20% at sufficient volume to ensure good coverage.
         
D. TEBUFENOZIDE      
  (Confirm) 2F 16-30 oz 14
         
E. SPINOSAD      
  (Entrust)# 1.25-3 oz 0.3-0.75 oz 14
  (Success) 4-8 oz 1-2 oz 14
  COMMENTS: Apply in early morning or evening when bees are not actively foraging.
         
  SPRING      
A. SPINOSAD      
  (Entrust)# 1.25-3 oz 0.3-0.75 oz 14
  (Success) 4-8 oz 1-2 oz 14
  COMMENTS: A fermentation-derived insect control product. This material is not as disruptive of natural enemies as the organophosphates.
   
B. METHOXYFENOZIDE      
  (Intrepid) 2F 2 pt 14
  COMMENTS: Apply by 20% at sufficient volume to ensure good coverage.
         
C. TEBUFENOZIDE      
  (Confirm) 2F 16-30 oz 14
         
D. CHLORPYRIFOS*      
  (Lorsban) 4E 2 qt 14
  COMMENTS: Do not apply more than 3 foliar applications/season. Do not allow livestock to graze in treated orchards. Avoid drift or tailwater runoff into surface waters.
   
E. AZINPHOSMETHYL*      
  (Guthion) 50WP 4 lb 1 lb 30
  COMMENTS: Do not apply more than twice following bloom. Restricted entry interval is 30 days.
   
F. METHIDATHION*      
  (Supracide) 25W 4 lb 1 lb 80
  COMMENTS: Do not apply more than once/season on foliage. This material may be phytotoxic to some almond varieties when used inseason.
   
** For dilute applications, rate is per 100 gal water to be applied in 300-500 gal water/acre, depending on the label; for concentrate applications, use 80-100 gal water/acre, or lower if the label allows.
+ Preharvest interval. Do not apply within this many days of harvest.
* Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use.
# Acceptable for use on organically grown produce.
Not recommended or not on label.

[Precautions]

PUBLICATION

[UC Peer Reviewed]

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Almond
UC ANR Publication 3431
Insects and Mites
F. G. Zalom, Entomology, UC Davis
C. Pickel, UC IPM Program, UC Cooperative Extension, Sutter/Yuba counties
W. J. Bentley, UC IPM Program, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
R. L. Coviello, UC Cooperative Extension, Fresno Co
R. A. Van Steenwyk, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley
M. W. Freeman, UC Cooperative Extension, Fresno Co.
Acknowledgment for contributions to the insects and mites section:
R. E. Rice, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
L. C. Hendricks, UC Cooperative Extension, Merced Co.

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