U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research: Wapato, WA
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    Facilities
                        USDA Laboratory in Wapato, WA
                                    USDA Prosser Worksite
                                    USDA Moxee Farm
                    About UsSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Pacific West Area Wapato, Washington Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research Research





- Schmidt, Rebecca
- Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)

Research Project: **Location:
                            Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research** Project Number: 2092-22430-003-036-T
                        
                        Project Type: Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement Start Date: Apr 1, 2021
                        
                        End Date: May 31, 2025 **Objective:**
                        
                        1. Examine methods for increasing retention of released natural enemies.
2. Determine cost-effectiveness and efficacy of natural enemy release by drone. **Approach:**
                        
                        Objective 1. Examine methods for increasing retention of released natural enemies. A primary complaint from growers is that natural enemies disperse from the orchard immediately after release. Nutritional supplements such as pollen & brine shrimp cysts are commercially available and have been shown to improve retention and survival of natural enemies in greenhouses, but this has not been tested in tree fruit orchards. Using methyl salicylate lures, which attract natural enemies, in combination with nutritional supplements may further improve natural enemy retention with little additional effort on the part of the grower. We will test supplements and lures in combination and individually in plots where commercially available predators, lacewings and minute pirate bugs, have been released in both apple and pear orchards. We will collect data on pest control levels, retention of released natural enemies, and recruitment of “native” natural enemies.

Objective 2. Determine cost-effectiveness and efficacy of natural enemy release by drone. One method for reducing natural enemy release labor costs is to conduct releases by drone. However, the ability of natural enemies to survive release by drone into orchards and whether this method significantly decreases natural enemy abundance relative to hand-releases is unknown. We will compare released predator abundance, pest control levels, and labor costs for releases by hand and by drone of lacewings and mealybug destroyers in apples and lacewings and minute pirate bugs in pear.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov