Effective Semiochemical Management of the Oriental Beetle for the Small Blueberry Grower

Highbush blueberry production has become an increasingly important US agricultural industry, produced by small and medium-sized farms in 35 states. There are very few pest management tools available to blueberry growers. A neuro-active neonicotinoid, is the only effective insecticide blueberry growers have to control the Oriental beetle (OrB), Anomala orientalis Waterhouse, a destructive root feeding pest in the larval stage. However, most blueberry growers are reluctant to use this pesticide because of the fear that neonicotinoids may be linked to the devastating colony collapse disorder (CCD) of bees. Following the achievements of the Phase I USDA SBIR project, ISCA Technologies will seek to refine all parameters of SPLAT OrB application to make adoption of SPLAT OrB formulations economically feasible for all blueberry growers. Further refinements to the final SPLAT OrB formulations include reducing the total amount of SPLAT OrB applied per area (acre or hectare), reducing the size of each SPLAT OrB point source, or dollop, while maintaining a 12 week field life, and assessing the reduction in beetle mating success following a SPLAT OrB application. This Phase II USDA SBIR project, Effective Semiochemical Management of the Oriental Beetle for the Small Blueberry Grower, will result in an effective line of SPLAT OrB products for mating disruption control of adult oriental beetle and will be available on the market to all US blueberry growers in response to few management tools available for this pest.