New pest infesting almonds and pistachios in the San Joaquin Valley

Adult carpophilus beetles, noted by blue circles, inside of A shell divide almond. Photo by Jhalendra Rijal

Crop sanitation will be key has control THE invasive carpophilus beetle

Producers And pest control advisors (PCA) should be on THE attention For A new pest called carpophilus beetle (Carpophilus truncatus). This pest was recently find infesting almonds And pistachios In THE san Joaquin Valley, And East recognized as A of THE high two pests of almond production In Australia. Damage occurs When adults And the larvae food directly on THE core, provoking discounts In both yield And quality.

Populations of carpophilus beetle were First of all detected In September In almond And pistachio orchards by University of California Cooperative Extension Specialist Houston Wilson of CPU Along the river Department of Entomology. Pest identification was Next confirmed by THE California Department of Food And Agriculture.

Adult carpophilus beetles as seen Since THE (A) dorsal, (B) ventral, (VS) LEFT lateral And (D) prior END. Pictures by Sarah Meierotto, CPU By the river

Wilson East NOW functioning with Jhalendra Rijal, CPU integrated pest management advise, North san Joaquin Valley; David Haviland, UCCE farm advise, Kern County; And other UCCE farm advisors has to drive A wider investigation of orchards all along THE san Joaquin Valley has determine THE extent of THE epidemic.

HAS date, almond Or pistachio orchards infested by carpophilus beetle to have has been confirmed In Stanislas, Mercéd, Madera And kings counties, suggesting that THE establishment of This new pest East Already widespread. In do, a few specimens Since Merced County were Since collections that were do In 2022, suggesting that THE pest has has been here In THE san Joaquin Valley For has less A year already.

"He has likely has been here For A little years base on THE Shame We have seen," Rijal said.

This invasive beetle winters In stay nuts (that's to say. Mummy nuts) that are LEFT In THE TREE Or on THE ground following THE previous years harvest. Adults move on new reframe nuts around split hull, Or they deposit their eggs directly on THE nut. THE the larvae that emerge food on THE development seeds, exit THE almond core packed up with A GOOD powdery mix of nut meat And feces that East Sometimes accompanied by A oval shape tunnel.

Carpophilus beetle has has been well established In Australia For on ten years, Or he East considered A key pest of almonds. More recently, THE beetle was reported Since nut In Argentina And Italy as GOOD. Carpophilus truncatus East A close relative has other beetles In THE gender Carpophilus, such as THE dried fruit beetle (C. hemiptera) that East known mostly as A post-harvest pest of figs And raisins In California.

Monitoring For carpophilus beetle East Currently limit has direct inspection of shell divide nuts For THE presence of food Holes and or the larvae Or adult beetles. A new pheromone lure that East be developed In Australia can Soon provide A better monitoring tool For the producers, PCA And researchers.

"Were lucky has to have colleagues abroad that to have Already has been hammering far has This pest For almost A decade," said Haviland. "Hopefully We can learn Since their experiences And quickly get This new beetle below control. »

THE ability has to use insecticides has control carpophilus beetle remains not clear. THE majority of THE the beetle life ride a bike East spent protected inside THE nut, with relatively short the Windows of opportunity available has attack THE adults while they are exposed. THE location of THE beetles In THE nut all along most of their life ride a bike Also allow them has avoid significant levels of biological control.

Carpophilus beetles food directly on THE nut core, which can Sometimes result In A distinct...