TRI-COUNTY PECAN NUT CASEBEARER MONITORING PROJECT

Kenneth Adamek, Jay Garcia, David Bohuslov, Raymond Steffek,

Charles Nelson Jr, Charles Nelson Sr., Lloyd Boedeker, Mark Vavrusa,

Kernell Moritz, Roel Chacon and Don Stockauer, Cooperators (2002)

Anthony Netardus - DeWitt County CEA - Ag

Shannon DeForest - Lavaca County CEA - Ag

Joe Janak - Victoria County CEA - Ag

Bill Ree - Extension Agent - IPM (Pecan)

SUMMARY:

Ten volunteer pecan producers from DeWitt, Lavaca and Victoria counties received training on pecan nut casebearer biology and monitoring methods. In turn, these volunteer producers monitored PNC pheromone traps and reported trap data and first significant events of first trap catch, first observed egg and nut entry to their respective county Extension agent. County agents from these three counties used this information in their mass media programs such as, radio programs, newsletters and news articles to keep other pecan producers in their respective counties informed of PNC activity.

OBJECTIVE:

The pecan nut casebearer is one of the most damaging insects of pecan with the first summer generation, having the ability in some years to destroy an entire crop.

Because insects develop according to temperature rather than a calendar schedule, the start of PNC activity could vary by as much as two weeks from year to year depending on spring temperatures.

A successful PNC management program depends on monitoring for adult activity and the start of oviposition. In order to make correct management decisions producers must monitor their orchard at the correct time.

The objective of this project was to teach PNC scouting techniques to producers to improve communication between them and their respective county Extension agent so as to increase overall county knowledge of PNC activity, recommended control measures and over profitability

METHODS and MATERIALS:

County Extension Agents from DeWitt, Lavaca, and Victoria counties each recruited 2 - 4 volunteer pecan growers to dispense and monitor pecan nut casebearer pheromone traps for first and second generation flight activity. The volunteer producers were then to report trap data to their county Extension agent on a weekly basis plus observation dates of first significant events of first trap catch, first observed egg and first observed nut entry.

Ten volunteer producers, three county Extension agents met with Bill Ree, IPM (Pecan) Agent for an in-depth training on pecan nut casebearer on April 2, 2002. Each producer and County Agent received 6 PNC pheromone traps and pheromone septas, 10x hand lens, tally meter, flagging tape, data sheets, Texas Cooperative Extension publications: "Field Guide to Insects and Mites Associated with Pecan" B-6055; Controlling the Pecan Nut Casebearer L-5134 ; Texas Commercial Pecan Insect Control, Guide B-1238 and other literature pertaining to PNC.. Volunteer producers were also provided caps designating them as "Master Pecan Scouts" during the Tri-county Pecan Field day on April 5, 2002.

RESULTS and DISCUSSIONS:

Volunteer producers provided information to their respective county agent on a weekly basis plus information on the biological events of first adult capture, date of first observed egg and nut entry. Information from the volunteer producers were used in radio programs, news articles and news letters.

Results of first adult catches in pheromone traps varied by 7 days across Victoria county. This information supports the fact that every orchard is different in terms of insect activity and each orchard needs to be scouted to determine if and when an insecticide application is needed.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

Thanks to the following pecan producers Kenneth Adamek, Jay Garcia, David Bohuslov, Raymond Steffek, Charles Nelson Jr, Charles Nelson Sr., Lloyd Boedeker, Mark Vavrusa, Kernell Moritz, Roel Chacon and Don Stockauer for assisting with this project.

DISCLAIMER CLAUSE:

Trade names of commercial products used in this report are included only for better understanding and clarity. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Texas A&M University is implied. Readers should realize that results from one experiment do not represent conclusive evidence that the same response would occur where conditions vary.

Table 1. Dates for first observed pecan nut casebearer pheromone trap catch, oviposition and nut entry observations. Victoria County, 2002.

Producer	County	First observed adult catch	First observed egg	First observed entry
Garcia	Victoria	April 18	May 1	May 1
Janak	Victoria	April 24	-	-
Moritz	Victoria	April 25
Nelson	Victoria	April 24		May 3
Stockbauer	Victoria	April 25		May 2