Tree Fruit Insect Research Objectives:

• Develop basic knowledge of behavior and chemical ecology of orchard pests, specifically in relation to developing improved and novel IPM tools and strategies, including mass trapping, attract and kill, mating disruption, host-finding disruption, and combinations thereof.
• Develop basic knowledge of pathogens of orchard pests and develop novel approaches and methods to use pathogens of codling moth, leafrollers, and other orchard pests as IPM tools that are compatible with mating disruption and other biointensive techniques.
• Refine commercial mating disruption systems for codling moth (CM) and leafrollers.
• Develop basic knowledge of insecticide resistance in CM and leafrollers and incorporate this knowledge into resistance management strategies which involve restricted use of insecticides combined with alternative management tactics.
• Study basic biology and genetics of native and exotic natural enemies associated with codling moth, leafrollers, and pear psylla. Determine compatibility of enemies with orchard IPM programs, mating disruption, and soft chemicals, such as soaps and insect growth regulators.
• Determine taxonomic composition of natural enemies in native habitats surrounding orchards. Monitor and describe use of non-orchard habitats, alternative prey, and alternative host plants by natural enemies. Study basic biology of natural enemies in native habitats.
• Evaluate role of orchard cultural practices, particularly ground cover management, use of windbreaks, and orchard cleanup on density and diversity of insect pests and natural enemies in orchard ecosystems. Manipulate practices to enhance natural enemy activity.
• For secondary pests requiring control, develop management methods that are compatible with mating disruption and biological control for key pests.
• Evaluate approaches and methods for use of sterile insect techniques against codling moth and in conjunction with other biointensive methods of control.

Researchers Conducting Tree Fruit Insect Research at YARL:

• Dr. Peter Landolt, (Research Leader)
  • Dr. Peter Landolt serves as Research Leader for YARL. Dr. Landolt's research interests include the development of attractants for monitoring and control of moth pests of tree fruit crops.
• Dr. Lawrence Lacey
  • Dr. Lacey's current research includes development of insect pathogens for control of insect pests of tree fruit and potatoes.  Candidate pathogens for control of codling moth and other tree fruit pest insects include viruses, nematodes and bacteria.
• Dr. Thomas Unruh
  • Dr. Tom Unruh's research involves classical biological control introductions of parasitoids, studies of natural products for pest control, landscape ecology studies and molecular studies on pest and natural enemies to evaluate insecticide resistance, biogeographic and genetic relationships, and, most recently, to evaluate predation rates.
• Dr. David Horton
• Dr. Alan Knight
  • Dr. Alan Knight participated in the highly successful Codling Moth Areawide Management Project (CAMP). He and his lab technicians are currently at work on new and exciting projects including field trials of a bisexual codling moth attractant.
• Dr. Lisa Neven
• Dr. Wee Yee
  •  Dr. Yee's current research at YARL deals with the behavior, ecology, and control of temperate fruit flies (western cherry fruit fly and apple maggot), specifically their mating behavior, dispersal behavior, attraction to traps and lures, and the effects of diet on fecundity.
• Dr. Steve Garczynski
  • Dr. Garczynski is the newest member of YARL's scientific team. Steve will be working on projects to control codling moth using biochemical methods.

Special Tree Fruit Research Information:

• Rose Garden For Leafroller Biocontrol
• Pear Ester Research Papers