Course Description
This course provides an in-depth exploration of insect pests affecting tree nuts, focusing on their behavior, impact, and management strategies. The course covers the key pests, including stink bugs, leaf-footed bugs, navel orangeworm, and the invasive Carpophilus Beetle. Participants will learn about pest identification, life cycles, damage differentiation, and the critical role of winter sanitation in pest control. Practical insights on pheromone traps, orchard sanitation, and insecticide challenges are also provided. Designed for growers, pest control advisors, and industry professionals, the course emphasizes evidence-based strategies to maintain crop quality and mitigate pest damage.
Course Objectives:
After completing this course, learners will be able to:
- Identify and differentiate key insect pests affecting tree nuts, including stink bugs, leaf-footed bugs, navel orangeworm, and Carpophilus Beetle.
- Understand pest lifecycles and seasonal activity to better predict and mitigate damage.
- Learn effective management strategies, including winter sanitation and the use of pheromone traps, to reduce pest populations.
- Differentiate types of pest damage to implement targeted interventions and maintain crop quality.
- Explore challenges and limitations of current pest control methods, such as insecticide efficacy and storage pest management.