So to start the season lets talk a little about available options for early season control of pear psylla and European red mites, our earliest bug related problems in the pear and apple orchards. We have not observed the female activity yet, but with the current outside temperatures it may happen at any time. A single female can produce over 600 eggs. Effective early spring psylla control program may be crucial for the entire season. In orchards with the history of pear psylla problems the first sprays should include oil in order to suppress egg laying and some adulticide to eliminate overwintering adults.
Thorough coverage is required for good control of psylla during each application.
This oil schedule has provided excellent egg laying suppression. Pear psylla females do not like to lay eggs on oily surfaces. The oil spray at budburst should be combined with an adulticide to kill the adults. The mode of action of pyriproxyfen is different from that of ordinary neuro-toxic insecticides. Two applications of Esteem 0.86EC are allowed per season.