LEVERAGING PEST BEHAVIOR FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF BIOLOGICAL CONTROL FOR PLUM CURCULIO

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: OTHER GRANTS
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1017603
• Grant No.: 2018-70006-28934
• Cumulative Award Amt.: $304,307.00
• Proposal No.: 2018-04533
• Project Start Date: Sep 1, 2018
• Project End Date: Aug 31, 2022
• Grant Year: 2018
• Program Code: [ARDP]- Applied Research and Development Program

Project Director
Nielsen, A.

Recipient Organization
RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
3 RUTGERS PLZA
NEW BRUNSWICK,NJ 08901-8559

Performing Department
Rutgers Agricultural Research

Non Technical Summary
This ARDP research-led project will develop integrated IPM strategies and deliver extension materials to enhance the sustainability of eastern and southeastern fruit production and meets ARDP program priorities. Plum curculio (PC), is a keystone pest and consistently ranks as a top concern in apples, peaches, and blueberries. PC adults and larvae cause significant feeding damage and contamination of fruit at harvest. The adoption of additional IPM strategies has been largely absent thus, management relies heavily on repeated applications of insecticides, occasionally guided by a degree-day model. PC has demonstrated a strong edge effect in Canadian apples and we hypothesize that dispersal behavioral and subsequent spatial distribution of larvae are conserved among agroecosystems and regions and provides an opportunity for management. We will systematically evaluate the distribution of PC within apple, peach, and blueberry and develop integrated management strategies against multiple life stages to a spatially refined area using border sprays to target immigrating adults and biological control of larvae using entomopathogens (EPNs). Both tactics will spatially refine application areas and will reduce costs by over 25% - addressing a key barrier to adoption. We expect that integrating these tactics will reduce the amount and number of insecticide applications needed. The impact on successive generations of the developed IPM tactics will be estimated by incorporating stage-specific mortality into aLeftkovichmatrix model. Finally, we will demonstrate the addition of spatially refined tactics on apple, peach, and blueberry farms in multiple states and disseminate management recommendations through videos and MyIPM app.

Animal Health Component

65%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

25%

Applied

65%

Developmental

10%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
216	3110	1130	100%

Knowledge Area
216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
3110 - Insects;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology;

Keywords

ipm

behavior

biological control

weevil

Goals / Objectives
Plum curculio is an insect pest that attacks economically important tree fruits (apple, peach, pear, cherry) east of the Rocky Mountains and NJ blueberry. Biologically based management strategies for plum curculio fall far behind the progress made for other insect pest species.Current IPM programs for PC rely on repeated insecticide applications occasionally guided by degree-day timing. Organic growers have even fewer effective options. In light of rapidly changing insecticide availability and restrictions, it is unsustainable for PC management programs to rely on a single input strategy.The ultimate goal of this research is to develop innovative, ecologically based, sustainable IPM strategies, which address regional and national IPM priorities. This research-led project will develop a reduced insecticide input strategy and a novel biological control approach that exploits PC behavior for sustainable management of a persistent fruit pest in the Eastern and Southeastern US.Adoption of these strategies will be enhanced due to reduced management costs (by over 25%) and electronic delivery of extension materials.Project Objectives are to:Objective 1: Identify movement and damage patterns of plum curculio within peach, apple, and blueberry(Research)1a. Determine the strength and persistence of plum curculio edge effects in fruit crops1b. Assess within-field distribution of adults and larval distributionObjective 2: Evaluate management strategies that exploit plum curculio distribution within fruit farms(Research)2a. Evaluate border sprays as a management strategy based on adult distribution2b. Integrate management strategies to control multi-life stages of plum curculio2c. Model population suppression of PC using the integrated management approachObjective 3: Disseminate materials on plum curculio behavior and management to stakeholders(Extension)3a. On-farm demonstration trials of integrated management approach3b. Disseminate information on PC biology and management to stakeholders

Project Methods
Objective 1: Identify movement and damage patterns of plum curculio within peach, apple, and blueberry(Research)1a: Determine the strength and persistence of PC edge effects in fruit cropsWe will utilize a mark-capture technique to track colonization and dispersal of PC within peach (NJ & GA), apple (NJ), and blueberry (NJ) across generations at research farms. This mark-capture technique marks naturally occurring weevil populations so that their natural behaviors can be identified. Fruit trees/bushes will be marked with two unique protein markers, egg whites to the perimeter plants and bovine milk to the interior plants, with a multiple row buffer zone between treated areas to prevent contamination of protein markers. Adult weevils will be sampled from the treated crop daily for 7 d after each application at multiple sites along the perimeter and interior. We will analyze all collected weevils with ELISA to determine if they have been 'marked' with either of the proteins.1b: Assess within field distribution of adults and larval distributionTransects of peach and apple orchards in NJ, WV, and GA will be sampled weekly during activity periods for PC using beat samples and/or circle traps during years 1 & 2. Multiple monitoring methods will be utilized because PC exhibits behaviors that make it difficult to monitor, although we will not use the identified aggregation pheromone, grandisoic acid plus benzaldehyde synergist, because it can artificially aggregate populations and has reduced attraction post-bloom. A mid-season and harvest sample will be assessed for PC feeding and/or damage. All sample units will be georeferenced.Objective 2: Evaluate management strategies that exploit plum curculio distribution within fruit farms(Research)2a.Evaluate border sprays as a management strategy based on adult distributionIn year 2, we will conduct experiments in 2-5 acre research plots in apples and peaches in NJ, WV, NH and GA and 2-5-acre blueberry plots in NJ plots to evaluate border sprays for PC adults. We will evaluate the following treatments: 1) border spray (insecticide application to orchard/field border and first full row) beginning at petal fall and continuing weekly for the 1stgeneration activity period, usually 2-4 weeks, or a single post-bloom border application in blueberries; 2) grower standard involving insecticide application on a 10-14 day interval using the same insecticide as in Treatment 1, or a single post-bloom application in blueberries; 3) untreated control. We will assess the impact on natural enemies using yellow sticky cards placed at eight locations within the border, four on the edge and four on the interior, placed four times during the growing season. Data on relative population pressure will be collected using two unbaited black pyramid traps, one at the orchard border, and one on the interior, per experimental unit. Also, once every week, beat sampling will be done on 12 trees in the orchard border and 12 in the interior for both treatments. At mid-season and at harvest, fruit damage assessment will be done.2b. Integrate management strategies to control multi-life stages of plum curculioWe will evaluate the integration of spatially refined PC management at the field scale to determine reduction in fruit damage. On experimental farms in NJ, WV, and GA we will compare 4 treatments: a grower standard management program of whole block insecticides applied every 7-10 days during damage period (or a single post-bloom application in blueberries), border spray, border spray +S. riobrave, and an untreated control in a randomized complete block design.S. riobravewill be applied to the area underneath the tree canopy using a handgun trunk sprayer. Efficacy of EPNs will be measured by containing dropped fruit with a known number of oviposition scars within three 1 m2emergence cages along the treated and untreated rows and measuring PC adult emergence.At mid-season and again at harvest, fruit damage assessment and relative population pressure will be assessed.2c. Model population suppression of PC using the integrated management approachA Leftkovich matrix model will be developed using existing developmental parameters for PC and incorporating stage-specific mortality caused by the proposed IPM strategies. The percent control of each management strategy evaluated in Obj. 2b, relative to the grower standard or untreated control will be calculated from field trials. Differences between treatments will be utilized as the survival factor in a stage-specific Leftkovich matrix model similar to laboratory insecticide trials. This will allow prediction of population impacts on successive generations, specifically relative rates of population increase and changes in net population growth over generations (including univoltine and bivoltine populations) between treatments. Prediction of long-term population impacts is critical in crops and geographic regions where PC has one generation per year and may not see immediate benefit of strategies such as biological control.Objective 3: Disseminate materials on plum curculio behavior and management to stakeholders(Extension)3a. On-farm demonstration trials to integrate EPN application for PC managementIn cooperation with commercial growers we will conduct a non-destructive survey of PC damage in Year 1 within transects in mid-season to identify distribution. In years 2 and 3, the integration of border sprays andS. riobravewill be applied as above in a split-plot design with 4 replicates per orchard block in each state and crop. The treatments will be a grower standard and border sprays +S. riobraveapplication. Each block will be a minimum of 2 acres with a history of PC damage and a woods edge. Data will be collected on percent PC injured fruit and relative population assessments through placement of a trap along orchard/field border and one on the interior of each treatment block in the subsequent generation. We will engage influential growers in GA and NJ peaches; NJ, WV, and NH apples; and NJ blueberries.In conjunction with field days or twilight meetings, we will demonstrate application of EPNs to the fields and how to integrate biological control using EPNs into current management programs. We will establish and maintain a database of participating peach and blueberry growers in NJ, WV, GA, and NH to track implementation of project results.3b. Disseminate information on plum curculio biology and management to stakeholdersA survey on grower perceptions and current practices for PC, border sprays, and knowledge about EPNs will guide extension efforts. PI's will distribute the paper survey to 250+ growers at annual fruit meetings in year 1 and again in year 3. PI's have responsibility for 2% of US apple production, 10% blueberry and 25% of US peach production and thus have the capacity to reach growers on all production scales.We will develop factsheets on PC biology, life history, and in-field distribution within peach and apple. Similar factsheets will be developed on EPN life cycle and application methods. Since the use of EPNs is new to commercial fruit growers, a short "how-to" video will be made as an instructional aide for the use of EPNs against PC. The video will be posted on YouTube and hosted by the Southern Region IPM Center. During the growing season, we will present project findings at demonstration field days in GA, WV, and NJ. PI's will present on how to exploit PC movement and within field distribution at winter meetings. Similar information will be disseminated electronically through newsletters and blog posts such. PC biology and management will be updated in the MyIPM smartphone app. Integrating this information with the MyIPM app will bring this tool to additional growers in the mid-Atlantic region.

Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/22

Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience for this work is researchers and extension educators. The results of this work is critical in developing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs for in tree fruit, cranberries, and wine grapes. Changes/Problems:This project was hampered by COVID-19 research restrictions in early 2020 which occurred at the same time as peak plum curculio activity. However, the hardest obstacle was during the project period all states had multiple spring freezes which significantly reduced the peach and/or apple crop and limited (or prevented) the completion of planned research projects. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We trained two post-doctoral researchers and two graduate students as well as five undergraduate students during the course of this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated to stakeholders via blog posts (Rutgers Plant Pest Advisory), grower conferences, in-season fruit twilight meetings. The mobile app "MyIPM" will be updated with the results of this project for plum curculio. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Identify movement and damage patterns of plum curculio within peach, apple, and blueberry(Research) 1a. Determine the strength and persistence of plum curculio edge effects in fruit crops Laboratory tests investigated survival and behavioral impacts of food-based protein markers on plum curculio. We compared contact and direct spray of the proteins in vertical mobility (cm) and horizontal mobility (Ethovision tracking of total distance and velocity) tests. There was no effect of the protein marking on survivorship or behavior. This data supports the use of food-based protein markers for looking at in situ behavior of plum curculio in orchard crops. We utilized food-based protein markers in GA and NJ peach orchards to identify within field movement in 2019 - 2021. Protein solutions are sprayed onto orchard trees with egg white on the exterior trees and milk on the interior. The protein solution marks the PC currently in the orchard and the insects also pick up the marking as the move into and within the trees. This approach helps to identify how PC invades an orchard to develop refined management strategies.We conducted this field study at thethe USDA Southeastern Fruit and Tree Nut Research Station in Byron, GA,Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Bridgeton, NJ and an organic blueberry farm in Hammonton. In GA, adult weevils were sampled from the treated orchard every three days after each application at 12 sites along the perimeter and 12 in the interior. At each sampling site, weevils were sampled by gently beating three, randomly selected terminal branches from three adjacent peach trees. A total of 633 PC were collected. However, due to antibody problems and then complications related to the global COVID-19 pandemic, we still need to analyze these PC samples for protein marking with ELISAs. We found that in both crops in NJ PC exhibits a strong perimeter effect meaning the the insects move into the orchard from overwintering sites and gadually colonize the crop from these field margins. The same trends were found in both blueberry and peach although there was increased movement back and forth between the perimeter and the interior in peach.In blueberry, over both seasons, significantly moreC. nenupharadults were collected on the border (82.3%) than in the interior (17.7%). The number ofPCcollected in both the border and the interior increased through the middle and end of May, but populations rapidly declined in June across the whole site. Significantly more collected insects were marked with egg protein. In NJ peach, the pattern for protein marked insects in peach was similar toPCcollected in blueberry fields. There were significant differences in the locationPCwere collected, with 77.5% being collected on the border, while 22.5% were collected in the interior. Throughout the season, a significantly higher number of insects were marked with egg indicating that while an edge effect was observed, most insect movement was from outward-in. In GA, a total of 633 PC were collected but ELISA results are still pending. 1b. Assess within-field distribution of adults and larval distribution In NJ, GA, and WV we used traps around apple or peach trunks to intercept adult curculios as they walked up the tree to find host plants. By placing these traps in a grid pattern, it supplements the protein marking data to look at spatial arrangement of PC for adults, and then once fruit was growing, the larvae/injury as well. Plum curculio were significantly more abundant in close proximity to woodland. Additionally the number of PC was affected by the position inside the orchard. Those on the edges have more insects compared with the traps in the interior. In GA, additional field studies were conducted in two peach orchards located at the USDA Southeastern Fruit and Tree Nut Research Station in Byron, GA. We conducted this study from March to October/November in 2019 and 2020. In each orchard, we deployed the Whalon-modified Tedder's traps (black pyramid traps) at three different heights, including 0 (low), 120 cm (medium), and 240 cm (high) above the ground along four transects. The four transects were the forest border, orchard edge, 3rd and 5th peach tree rows. Our findings suggest that the presence of PC's edge effect might vary by year, site, and sampling method. In the orchards where the beat sampling and circle trunk traps were used for PC sampling (from Obj. 1b data), the edge effect never occurred; whereas, in these orchards where the black pyramid traps placed at different heights were used to sample PC, the edge effect occurred late in the season in 2019 and early in the season in 2020. Objective 2: Evaluate management strategies that exploit plum curculio distribution within fruit farms(Research) 2a. Evaluate border sprays as a management strategy based on adult distribution We conducted field trials comparing border sprays (applying insecticide for PC adults and larvae to orchard borders only - about 25% of the orchard - guided by a DD model) and border sprays + EPN (entomopathogenic nematode) application for management of larval stages to an untreated block in peach and apple. This was conducted in NJ (peach and apple), GA (peach), and WV (apple). Injury caused by plum curculio is designated as "scars" or live larvae found during a mid-season and a final harvest evaluation. Evaluating the management strategies based on the fruit damage at mid-season harvest in NJ was founded the lowest severity damage for the border spray (BS) plus the entomopathogenic nematode (EPN). In GA we also saw a reduction in scars in the treatments but no difference between border spray or border spray+EPN treatments. We were only able to complete one year of data collection due to spring freeze events which resulted in the loss of a lot of fruit in the research orchards. 2b. Integrate management strategies to control multi-life stages of plum curculio In NJ, we compared the emergence of adult plum curculio in field emergence cages to which plum curculio larvae were introduced and that were treated with S. riobrave at rates of 100, 50, or 25 EPNs/cm2of soil, along with a negative control. All three rates significantly reduced plum curculio emergence compared to the control. This shows that S. riobrave can be effective at lower application rates than currently recommended, potentially making it a more economically viable option for farmers. In Georgia, a similar test was conducted to compare EPN application rate for S. carpocapsae and S. riobrave. There were 5 replicates of each treatment with plot sizes of 10,000 cm2 and 22 PC larvae per plot. Treatments included: S. riobrave at 0, 25, 50, and 100 EPNs/cm2. Applications were made 9-28-2020 however, after more than 6 weeks no PC emergence was detected. Mostly likely the insects pupated and remained in the soil rather than emerging due to the lateness of the season. Our plans to repeat the application of EPNs with a weed-boom spray were disrupted due to supply chain issues. 2c. Model population suppression of PC using the integrated management approach This objective was not able to be completed due to poor datasets on integration of management tactics resulting from loss of fruit and supply chain disruptions. Objective 3: Disseminate materials on plum curculio behavior and management to stakeholders(Extension) Due to COVID restrictions, we were unable to conduct in-person demonstrations and our preliminary results were not strong enough to take this research out to farmer collaborators. Fruit growers were updated with information about PC biology and activity at the 2019, 2020, and 2022 extension meetings, specifically the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference and the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference, reaching more than 200 stakeholders.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: T Lampasona, AL Nielsen, C Akotsen-Mensah 2018 ÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ¿Prevalence and heritability of host preference in Conotrachelus nenuphar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)ÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ Entomological Society America Annual Mtg., Vancouver, Canada
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: TC Leskey, D Shapiro-Ilan, J Cullum, J Pinero, AL Nielsen, C Rodriguez-Saona 2018 ÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ¿A multi-life stage management strategy for the pervasive tree fruit pest, the plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst), in apple orchardsÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ Entomological Society America Annual Mtg., Vancouver, Canada
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: T Lampasona, TC Leskey, AL Nielsen 2018 ÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ¿Effect of protein immunomarking materials on behavior of plum curculio Conotrachelus nenuphar.ÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ Entomological Society America Eastern Branch Meeting, Annapolis, MD
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: T Lampasona, C Rodriquez-Saona, and AL Nielsen. 2022 Novel Hosts Can Incur Fitness Costs to a Frugivorous Insect Pest. Ecology & Evolution 12:4 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8841
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Lampasona, T. P., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Leskey, T. C., & Nielsen, A. L. (2020). A Review of the Biology, Ecology, and Management of Plum Curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Journal of Integrated Pest Management, 11(1), 22.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Lampasona, T., Acebes-Doria, A., Leskey, T. C., & Nielsen, A. L. (2021). Behavioral Effects and Retention of Protein Immunomarkers on Plum Curculio Conotrachelus nenuphar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Journal of Insect Science, 21(6), 11.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Tzu-Chin Liu and Brett R. Blaauw. 2022. Is the Ground-deployed Trap Practical for Plum Curculio Monitoring in Southeastern Peaches?. Entomological Society of America ÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ¿ Southeastern Branch Annual Meeting. San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Tzu-Chin Liu and Brett R. Blaauw. 2021. Seasonal activity of plum curculio in Southeastern peaches. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Denver, CO.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: T Lampasona, AL Nielsen, C Rodriguez-Saona 2021 ÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ¿Alternate host effects and oviposition preference of plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenupharÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ Entomological Society America Eastern Branch Meeting, virtual
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: T Lampasona, C Rodriguez-Saona, AL Nielsen 2021 ÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ¿Utilizing protein immunomarkers to measure in-field dispersal of plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)ÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ Entomological Society of America Annual Mtg, on-demand
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Tzu-Chin Liu and Brett R. Blaauw. 2021. Temporal and spatial distribution of plum curculio in southeastern peach orchards. Entomological Society of America ÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ¿ Southeastern Branch Annual Meeting (Virtual).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: AL Nielsen 2021 ÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ¿Advances in control of plum curculioÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ Entomological Society of America Eastern Branch Meeting, virtual
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: McDougall, R. Shapiro-Ilan, D. Blaauw, B. and Nielsen, A. 2020. Effectiveness of varying application rates of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema riobrave, in controlling Plum Curculio (Contrachelus nenuphar) in peaches. Entomology 2020 ÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ¿ Conference of the Entomological Society of America. Presented Online.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: T Lampasona, A Nielsen 2020 ÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ¿In-Field Distribution of Plum Curculio Conotrachelus nenupharÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ Annual Cumberland-Shenandoah Fruit Workers Conf., Winchester, VA
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: C Akotsen-Mensah, T Lampasona, A Nielsen 2019 ÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ¿Plum curculio trapping and management in New Jersey peachesÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MO
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: McDougall, R. Akotsen-Mensah, C. Leskey, T. Rodriguez-Saona, C. Blauuw, B. and Nielsen, A. 2019. Leveraging pest Behaviour for Implementation of Biological Control for Plum Curculio. Cumberland-Shenandoah Fruit Workers Conference. Winchester, VA, USA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Tzu-Chin Liu and Brett R. Blaauw. 2019. Assessment of plum curculio activity in Southeastern peach orchards. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. St. Louis, MO

Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21

Outputs
Target Audience:Target Audience: Our target audience is commercial growers, extension educations, and crop consultants working in fruit production and IPM. Efforts: These audiences were reached through traditional and virtual extension programming which due to current COVID restrictions was limited to presentations on the project results. Now with two years of data completed, we will begin working updating the MyIPM app to reach a broader audience. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have trained two post-doctoral scholars on plum curculio biology and management and one graduate student on curulio behavior. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results to date have been disseminated through traditional extension outputs such as grower meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will repeat Obj 2b and use the data collected thus far to develop Obj 2c. Combining all the project data to date, we will work to integrate region and crop-specificmangement recommendations into the MyIPM app.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Identify movement and damage patterns of plum curculio within peach, apple, and blueberry(Research) 1a. Determine the strength and persistence of plum curculio edge effects in fruit crops 1b. Assess within-field distribution of adults and larval distribution 2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: We completed the final year of field studies to determine behavior of PC within peach and blueberry plantings using protein markers. Protein markers allow us to track movement between specific areas of the orchard - the perimeter and the interior to identify source of the popualtion and movement between orchard locations, which can inform management programs. We found that in both crops in NJ PC exhibits a strong perimeter effect meaning the the insects move into the orchard from overwintering sites and gadually colonize the crop from these field margins. The same trends were found in both blueberry and peach although there was incrased movement back and forth between the perimeter and the itnerior in peach. These differences are likely due to plant architecture and availability of fruits for oviposition. In NJ, GA, and WV we also used traps around apple or peach trunks to intercept adult curculios as they walked up the tree to find host plants. By placing these traps in a grid pattern, it supplements the protein marking data to look at spatial arrangement of PC for adults, and then once fruit was growing, the larvae/injury as well.The result from the last season was consistent with previous season finding that plum curculio were significantly more abundant in close proximity to woodland.Additionally the number of PC was affected by the position inside the orchard. Those on the edges have more insects compared with the traps in the interior. Objective 2: Evaluate management strategies that exploit plum curculio distribution within fruit farms(Research) 2a. Evaluate border sprays as a management strategy based on adult distribution 2b. Integrate management strategies to control multi-life stages of plum curculio 2c. Model population suppression of PC using the integrated management approach 2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Obj 2a and 2b were combined as they were in 2019. We conducted field trials comparing border sprays (applying insecticide for PC adults and larvae to orchard borders only - about 25% of the orchard - guided by a DD model) and border sprays + EPN application for management of larval stages to and untreated block. This was conducted in NJ (peach and apple), GA (peach), and WV (apple). Injury caused by plum curculio is designated as "scars" or live larvae found during a mid-season and a final harvest evaluation.Evaluating the management strategies based on the fruit damage at mid-season harvest in NJ was founded the lowest severity damage for the border spray (BS) plus the entomopathogenic nematode (EPN). Additionally, the position inside the orchard showed an effect on the damages being lower in the edges. The same pattern was observed for the second-generation damageon fruits. InGA we also saw a reduction in scars in the treatmentsbut there was no difference between these two BS or BS+EPNtreatments, with no effect of the location inside the orchard. Objective 3: Disseminate materials on plum curculio behavior and management to stakeholders(Extension) 3a. On-farm demonstration trials of integrated management approach 3b. Disseminate information on PC biology and management to stakeholders Due to COVID restrictions, we were unable to conduct in-person demonstrations. However, in NJ we conducted a trial evaluated application rate of entomopathogenic nematodes that are used to control the larvae. In our field trials under Obj 2b., farm equipment (airblast sprayers for insecticide applications and herbicide sprayers for EPN application) were used to mimic grower conditions.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: T. Lampasona, A Nielsen, C Rodriguez-Saona. "In-situ distribution of plum curculio Conotrachelus nenuphar in peach and blueberry farms" Cumberland Shenandoah Fruit Workers Meeting 2021
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: AL Nielsen 2021 Advances in control of plum curculio Entomological Society of America Eastern Branch Meeting, virtual
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: T Lampasona, C Rodriguez-Saona, AL Nielsen 2021 Utilizing protein immunomarkers to measure in-field dispersal of plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Entomological Society of America Annual Mtg, on-demand
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: T Lampasona, AL Nielsen, C Rodriguez-Saona 2021 Alternate host effects and oviposition preference of plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar Entomological Society America Eastern Branch Meeting, virtual
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Lampasona, T., Acebes-Doria, A., Leskey, T. C., & Nielsen, A. L. (2021). Behavioral Effects and Retention of Protein Immunomarkers on Plum Curculio Conotrachelus nenuphar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Journal of Insect Science, 21(6), 11

Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20

Outputs
Target Audience: Our target audience is commercial growers, extension educators, and crop consultants working in fruit production and IPM. These audiences were reached through our extension objective which includes demonstration of the developed tactics on commercial farms, delivery of results at extension/grower meetings, development of fact sheets, 3-minute videos, and MyIPM app to reach a broader audience. Changes/Problems:The largest challenge facing every reearcher in 2020 was the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down or delayed research operations during a critical period of plum curculio activity and plant phenology. The timing of this signifcantly disrupted research plans and operating costs. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?A postdoctoral researcher at Rutgers University and a graduate student at University of Georgia are being trained on plum curuclio biology, behavior, and management. Undergraduate students at both institutions are being trained on identifying PC and associated in injury in various crops. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been presented to agricultural stakeholders growing stone and pome fruit throughout the Eastern states through in person agricultural conventions and later moving to a virtual format for in-season management recommendations. We have reached a minimum of 200 stakeholders through these extension training efforts. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan on conducting the bulk of the research that was planned for 2020, specifically integrating border sprays and EPN application on large field plot trials to target two life stages of plum curculio. We will also update the MyIPM app with information on plum curculio phenology, behavior, and management and disseminate this informaiton through multiple extension avenues.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Identify movement and damage patterns of plum curculio within peach, apple, and blueberry(Research) 1a. Determine the strength and persistence of plum curculio edge effects in fruit crops Laboratory tests on the impact of protein markers on PC survivorship and behavior were evaluated. We compared both contact and direct spray of the proteins in vertical mobility (cm) and horizontal mobility (Ethovision tracking of total distance and velocity). There was no effect of the protein marking on survivorship or behavior. Interestingly, females moved significantly longer than males in all metrics but there was no significant difference between proteins or marking method relative to the control. In 2019 we utilized the protein markers to identify within field movement where a strong edge effect occurred. We planned on repeating the 2019 field study in blueberry and peach using protein markers to track PC movement into and within a crop. However, the timing of COVID pandemic shut down early season research activities. Paired with these restrictions and an early bloom period (when PC initiates activity) we were unable to complete this experiment as planned. 1b. Assess within-field distribution of adults and larval distribution We continued analysis started in 2019 assessing the distribution of plum curculio in peach orchards. We assessed the presence of plum curculio in the perimeters and interiors of two peach orchards in NJ using circle traps. As in 2019, we found that plum curculio were significantly more abundant in close proximity to woodland. We found that traps on the edges of orchards (in the first or second row) had significantly more plum curculio than those in the interior, however when interior and perimeter traps were included we found no significant relationship between total distance to orchard edge and number of PC. Due to both the impacts of the COVID-19 shutdown and a very poor fruiting season in many of our test orchards, we were unable to carry out beat sampling or assess fruit damage, and carried out our analysis on a smaller number of sites than in 2019. All research in WV was not able to be completed and the work in NJ was conducted on a reduced sampling schedule. We proposed to sample 12 border sites and 12 interior sites within an orchard block as in 2019.of Contender peaches for plum curculio. Sites were sampled on a weekly basis from March through October using a combination of circle trunk traps and beat samples. Objective 2: Evaluate management strategies that exploit plum curculio distribution within fruit farms(Research) 2a. Evaluate border sprays as a management strategy based on adult distribution In 2019, preliminary studies in NJ showed that border sprays have the potential to manage PC populations while using significantly less insecticide.COVID restrictions on research plus a freeze event during bloom prevented trials in NJ and WV from occurring. 2b. Integrate management strategies to control multi-life stages of plum curculio In 2020, David Shapiro-Ilan (USDA in Byron GA) expanded upon this approach by comparing PC management with border sprays of Actara plus border sprays withentomopathogenic nematode (EPN)targeting the larvae, which were compared to an untreated orchard as a control.However, results indicated a very low plum curculio population so treatments cannot be compared. Only 3 weevils were captured in the control blocks. As part of objective 2b we assessed the efficacy of the entomopathogenic nematode (EPN)Steinernema riobravein controlling soil dwelling plum curculio larvae at varying application rates. We compared the emergence of adult plum curculio in field emergence cages to which plum curculio larvae were introduced and that were treated withS. riobraveat rates of 100, 50 or 25 EPNs/cm2of soil, along with a negative control. We found that all three rates significantly reduced plum curculio emergence compared to the control but that there were no significant difference amongst the three EPN treatments. This shows thatS. riobravecan be effective at lower application rates than currently recommended, potentially making it a more economically viable option for farmers. In Georgia, a similar test was conducted to compare EPN application rate forS. carpocapsae(Sc) andS. riobrave(Sr). There were 5 replicates of each treatment with plot sizes of 10,000 cm2 and 22 PC larvae per plot. Treatments included:S. riobraveat 0, 25, 50, and 100 IJs per cm2. Applications were made 9-28-2020 however, after more than 6 weeks no PC emergence was detected. Mostly likely the insects pupated and remained in the soil rather than emerging due to the lateness of the season. The traps are remaining in place so we can monitor for emergence in 2021. 2c. Model population suppression of PC using the integrated management approach. This objective occurs after collection of data on distribution of adults and multi-stage management approach have been conducted. Objective 3: Disseminate materials on plum curculio behavior and management to stakeholders(Extension) 3a. On-farm demonstration trials of integrated management approach Not possible due to COVID-19 3b. Disseminate information on PC biology and management to stakeholders Peach growers were updated with information about PC biology and activity at the 2020 extension meetings, specifically the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference and the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference, reaching more than 200 stakeholders.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Timothy P Lampasona, Cesar Rodriguez-Saona, Tracy C Leskey, Anne L Nielsen, A Review of the Biology, Ecology, and Management of Plum Curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Journal of Integrated Pest Management, Volume 11, Issue 1, 2020, 22, https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmaa018
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: RN McDougall, C Akotsen-Mensah, TC Leskey, C Rodriguez-Saona, BR Blaauw, AL Nielsen Leveraging pest behavior for implementation of biological control for plum curculio. Cumberland Shenandoah Fruit Workers Conference, Dec 2019

Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19

Outputs
Target Audience: Target Audience: Our target audience is commercial growers, extension educators, and crop consultants working in fruit production and IPM. Efforts: These audiences will be reached through our extension objective which includes demonstration of the developed tactics on commercial farms, delivery of results at extension/grower meetings, development of fact sheets, 3-minute videos, and MyIPM app to reach a broader audience. Changes/Problems:Based on our preliminary results on efficacy of a border spray, we will conduct management trials on research farms in 2020 as opposed to commercial farms. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have trained 1 post-doc on this project to date. Graduate students and undergraduates have participated in the research as well How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Our project team hasexplained PC biology, demonstrated border sprays and explained their benefits at 20 on-farm "twilight meetings". We have also presented information on the movement of PC across their lifecycle at the annual Cumberland-Shenandoah Fruit Workers Conference and at the USDA ARS 40thanniversary field day. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Objective 1: Identify movement and damage patterns of plum curculio within peach, apple, and blueberry(Research) We will repeat investigations from Year 1 on the spatial distribution and within field movement. Objective 2: Evaluate management strategies that exploit plum curculio distribution within fruit farms(Research) In 2019 we conducted border spray management trials at a NJ research farm. In 2020, we will conduct research trials comparing border sprays, border sprays plus EPN application, and an untreated blockin research farms in blueberry, peach, and apple in NJ, WV, and GA. We can use this data to begin working on the population model to predict population suppression. Objective 3: Disseminate materials on plum curculio behavior and management to stakeholders(Extension) We will continue to disseminate research findings to growers at extension events. Dr. Nielsen will be presenting results to date at the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference in January. Updates will be provided on the MyIPM app on plum curcluio biology and distribution.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Identify movement and damage patterns of plum curculio (PC) within peach, apple, and blueberry(Research) 1a. Determine the strength and persistence of PC edge effects in fruit crops 1b. Assess within-field distribution of adults and larval distribution We have found that the edge effect is highly significant in plots not treated with insecticide, with significantly higher numbers of adult PC found in edge trees and most measures of fruit damage, at harvest, but not mid-season, also being higher in edge trees. PC numbers were also found to spike earlier in the season in edge trees than in center trees. This trend was found across peaches, nectarines and apples in both NJ and WV, but not in GA peaches. Where orchards were treated with insecticide, either as part of a border spray or a grower standard whole-plot spray, this edge effectceased to be significant, presumably as the treatment overwhelms the edge effect. The one area where the edge effect was not found to significantly affect PC distribution was in Georgia and this may due to differences in landscape or field size, with adults emerging from fruit within the orchard in the growing season, as well as migrating in from outside orchards. Objective 2: Evaluate management strategies that exploit plum curculio distribution within fruit farms(Research) 2a. Evaluate border sprays as a management strategy based on adult distribution In NJ research plots, we trialed using border sprays as a management tactic. Border sprays consisted of only applying insecticide to the peaches at the end rows. We applied insecticide 4 times against the first generation and 2x against the second generation, but no full-plot application was trialed.We have found that border sprays can be effective at controlling PC, with border sprayed plots having significantly less damage than untreated controls across all metrics examined, both at harvest and mid-season . However in most cases border sprays also had significantly more damage than grower standard whole-plot sprayed orchards, implying they are of an intermediate level of effectiveness between standard treatment and no insecticide treatment. The level of injury that was present was higher than acceptable levels for growers and requires additional trialing on research farms. 2b. Integrate management strategies to control multi-life stages of plum curculio. This work will beginin 2020. 2c. Model population suppression of PC using the integrated management approach This research objective will commence after field trials on the combination of beneficial nematodes and insecticide are evaluated. Objective 3: Disseminate materials on plum curculio behavior and management to stakeholders(Extension) 3a. On-farm demonstration trials of integrated management approach This subobjective will begin after research trials are completed. 3b. Disseminate information on PC biology and management to stakeholders We have explained PC biology, demonstrated border sprays and explained their benefits at 20 on-farm "twilight meetings". We have also presented information on the movement of PC across their lifecycle at the annual Cumberland-Shenandoah Fruit Workers Conference and at the USDA 40thanniversary field day.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Rodriguez-Saona C, A Nielsen, D Shapiro-Ilan, S Tewari, V Kyryczenko-Roth, N Firbas, TC Leskey 2019 Exploring an Odor-baited Trap Bush Approach to Aggregate Plum Curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Injury in Blueberries. Insects 10: E113
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: TC Leskey, D Shapiro-Ilan, J Cullum, J Pinero, AL Nielsen, C Rodriguez-Saona 2018 A multi-life stage management strategy for the pervasive tree fruit pest, the plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst), in apple orchards Entomological Society America Annual Mtg., Vancouver, Canada
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: T Lampasona, AL Nielsen, C Akotsen-Mensah 2018 Prevalence and heritability of host preference in Conotrachelus nenuphar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Entomological Society America Annual Mtg., Vancouver, Canada
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2019 Citation: T Lampasona, AL Nielsen 2019 Tracking in-situ distribution of plum curculio Contrachelus nenuphar in peach and blueberry orchards Annual Cumberland-Shenandoah Fruit Workers Conf., Winchester, VA