Dr. Jaime Piñero
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) combines multiple complementary strategies to manage pests effectively while reducing reliance on broad-spectrum insecticides.
Who Cares and Why
Plum curculio is one of the most damaging insect pests of apples in the northeastern United States. Growers often rely on multiple insecticide sprays to protect fruit, increasing costs and environmental concerns. Finding effective ways to reduce pesticide use while maintaining high fruit quality is an important goal for sustainable agriculture.
What Has Been Done
Over more than 15 years, research conducted in commercial orchards across New England evaluated an innovative Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system that targets plum curculio both in the tree canopy and in the soil. The system combines:
- Trap trees, which attract and concentrate plum curculio adults into specific areas of the orchard where targeted sprays can be applied, and
- Beneficial insect-killing nematodes, naturally occurring microscopic organisms applied to the soil that attack and kill plum curculio larvae developing underground.
Impact
- Reduced insecticide use by up to >90% through targeted applications
- Maintained commercially acceptable fruit injury levels (<1%)
- Demonstrated consistent suppression of soil-dwelling stages using EPNs
- Advanced a multi-stage, behavior-based IPM strategy
- Increased grower adoption of sustainable practices
Bottom Line
This IPM system targets plum curculio both in the tree and in the soil, directly aligning with the principles of sustainable agriculture. It reduces reliance on broad-spectrum insecticides, helps conserve beneficial organisms, and lowers environmental impact while maintaining effective control. The approach demonstrates that behavior-based and biological strategies can be integrated into practical, scalable, and grower-ready solutions.
What Comes Next
Additional research will focus on improving application timing, refining economic feasibility, and adapting the system to diverse orchard conditions. Grower surveys indicate strong interest in sustainable approaches that reduce pesticide inputs while maintaining effective control.
Multi-stage IPM system for managing plum curculio. Trap trees attract adult plum curculio, allowing targeted insecticide sprays on selected trees. Infested apples fall to the ground, where beneficial entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) applied to the soil kill developing larvae. This integrated system can reduce plum curculio populations while greatly reducing insecticide use. Based on Piñero et al. (2020) and related research studies (https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/6/375).