North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[<dmnorton@royaloakfarmorchard.com>]

Jim,

Due to the adverse weather conditions and loss of fruit in many areas, there 
will be the initial response of thinking one does not need to be too 
concerned about pest control.  Actually, one will need to be a bit more 
diligent in monitoring, especially for fungal and bacterial diseases.  After 
any kind of weather related injury, fungicides still need to be considered. 
Damage breeds disease.  In fact, a good copper spray just prior to a light 
frost will add protection against that frost.

In the case of plum curculio, there is a great deal of information available 
at http://web1.msue.msu.edu/vanburen/plumcurc.htm.  I am also in the process 
of developing an early detection trap that will capture adults as they are 
flying into the orchard, rather than the previous trunk or triangle traps 
that generally do not work.  I will be starting my trials this spring with 
the use of a plum curculio lure and plum essence combination in a Trece 
Delta Pherocon VI trap.  I will continue to post results as they become 
available.

Dennis Norton
Royal Oak Farm Orchard
http://www.royaloakfarmorchard.com
http://www.theorchardkeeper.blogspot.com
http://www.revivalhymn.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Fruth" <jfruth@tds.net>
To: "NAFEX" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2007 8:45 AM
Subject: [NAFEX] Curcullio question


>    What does the Plum Curcullio infect when there is a collapse of its 
> usual host fruit?  This is a question we all need to start asking because 
> the pests will be back in force when we have fruit again.  So what do the 
> pests infect in the wild to tide them over until we have a crop of fruit? 
> If we could identify what they live on in the wild, we could further 
> reduce their numbers during this 'no fruit' year.  I ask about Plum 
> Curcullio because that is the only insect pest that costs me any economic 
> harm but I could ask the same question of all the others, Apple Maggot, 
> Medfly, etc.
>
> Jim Fruth
> Brambleberry Farm
> Pequot Lakes, MN  56472
> www.bberryfarm.com
> (218)568-8483 [Store]
> (218)831-7018 [My Cell]