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nafex - [NAFEX] Control for persimmon psylla?

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  • From: Scott Smith <scott@cs.jhu.edu>
  • To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [NAFEX] Control for persimmon psylla?
  • Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2007 12:36:48 -0400

Donna, I would say a special predator is needed to get in the curled- over leaves, they are strongly and tightly curled. We have lots of wasps and lots of birds, but maybe not the right kinds. I don't think persimmon psylla is comparable to pear psylla there because the pear psylla does not curl over the leaves the way the persimmon psylla does. One thing that I found interesting in your quoted article is it mentions a parasitic wasp which goes after pear psylla larvae. Maybe there is such a wasp for persimmon psylla that has yet to show up in my orchard.

There is one odd fly I often see on the persimmons and I just looked it up -- it is a "long-legged fly":

http://www.floridagardener.com/critters/Beneficial_Insects/ Dolichopodidae.htm

According to this description they feed on insect larvae. So maybe these guys are the knight in shining armor. These flies are quite common all over my orchard and I never knew if they were good guys or bad guys until now.

Scott


Scott, Do you have many wasps around your place? Would you consider
hanging some birdhouses or something like birdhouses, gourds, etc, in or
around your persimmon trees? I've been trying to think of what could get
inside the wrapped leaves, and I wonder if wasps would go for them. Wasps
are good to have around anyway as they are carnivores. We have a lot of
birdhouses up and some of them get used by wasps. I like that better than
in the shed or somewhere else I might get into them. I'll bet if you made
some birdhouses with the holes too small you'd get wasps, or hang up 3 close
within 12 feet or so of each other. You may get a couple with birds in
them, the other with wasps. The birds may very well figure out how to get
the psylla too. Donna




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