For Immediate Release
July 27, 2005

Contact:
David Haviland, Farm Advisor
Entomology and Pest Management
(661) 868-6215

Late-season Insect Management in Pistachios: Navel orangeworm and the ‘Gilli’ mealybug

Bakersfield - University of California researchers and specialists will present the latest information on late-season management of navel orangeworm and ‘Gilli’ mealybug at an extension meeting on Tuesday, August 16 th, 9:30-11:30 AM at the Tulare Co. Farm Advisor’s Office Main Conference Room.

The meeting will provide pistachio growers, PCAs and harvesters with information on the biology, spread, and management of ‘Gilli’ mealybug. This new exotic pest now infests at least one orchard in all pistachio-growing regions on California, including Kern County, and has been found in over 2,000 acres of pistachios. Damage from the mealybug includes severe contamination of clusters, nut shrivel, and the potential for decreases in kernel size, increased sticktights, increased staining and higher incidence of diseases in the cluster.

Attendees will be able to learn about the pest in a classroom lecture setting followed by a trip to a commercial pistachio block to witness the pest and its damage potential first-hand. There will also be field demonstrations of the results of spring and summer insecticide trials and discussions regarding management approaches.

This meeting is intended for all pistachio growers, PCAs and harvesters. This will be the last meeting available in 2005 with the combined opportunity of learning about this pest in a classroom as well as seeing it in the field. We also recommend bringing field scouts, crew foreman, and anybody else who might benefit from being able to recognize this pest in the field.

Meeting registration is free and reservations are not necessary. For more information contact the Tulare County UCCE office at (559) 582-3211, Ext. 2730 or David Haviland at the Kern County UCCE office at (661) 868-6215, dhaviland@ucdavis.edu.

Note to the media: High resolution images of ‘Gilli’ mealybug to accompany this meeting notice, or to be used by reporters and editors who attend the meeting, are available by contacting David Haviland, (661) 868-6215, dhaviland@ucdavis.edu.

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