Performance of mass-reared navel orangeworm for sterile insect technique in California tree nuts

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

3:06 PM – 3:18 PM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 110

Presenting Author(s)

Tzu-Chin Liu

PhD Student
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

Co-Author(s)

Dylan Alexander Tussey (he/him/his)

Postdoctoral Researcher
University of California Riverside
Fresno, California
SM

Sarah Meierotto

Staff Research Associate
University of California
Parlier, California
Charles S. Burks

Research Entomologist
USDA-ARS
Parlier, California
Houston Wilson

Asst. Cooperative Extension Specialist
University of California
Parlier, California

Navel orangeworm (NOW) (Pyralidae: Amyelois transitella) is a key pest of almonds, pistachios and walnuts in California. The moths directly infest nuts which leads to reduced crop yield and quality. Moth infestation can also predispose nuts to fungal pathogens that produce aflatoxins. While several integrated pest management strategies have been developed for this insect, studies have recently been initiated to explore the use of sterile insect technique (SIT) as an additional control tool. Currently, NOW are shipped overnight from a production facility in Phoenix, AZ to central California for field release. However, previous studies have shown male NOW flight performance is reduced by one or more aspects of the mass-rearing and transportation process. In this study, a series of field and laboratory trials were undertaken to evaluate performance of sterile NOW produced using different rearing, transportation and release methods. Findings from these studies provide new information on the effects of mass producing NOW for use in this SIT program.