This presentation was given at the Missouri Organic Association Meeting in January 2015. It provides a guide to controlling pests in an organic high tunnel system growing small fruits.

1. Organic Pest Management
for High Tunnel Production of Small Fruits
Dr. Donn Johnson, Professor
Department of Entomology

2. Monitoring
Strawberries:
Cutworms, Spider mites, Aphids
New: MyIPM Smartphone App Strawberry Diseases
Brambles:
Spider mites, Aphids, Rednecked Cane Borer,
Spotted wing drosophila (SWD)
Exclusion of SWD
Watch for Broad Mite
Summary

3. Monitoring insects and mites
Optivisor
16X Hand lens

4. Cutworms
Spider mites
Aphids
Strawberry Pests In High Tunnel
No spotted wing drosophila found in harvested strawberries through mid-June

5. Cutworms
• Biology: in high tunnel, larvae overwinter in soil and
chew small holes on strawberry leaves at night
• Damage: leaf feeding appears soon after transplanting
strawberries in fall
• Monitor: as soon as planted for holes in leaves
• Treatment: if holes seen, apply Bt

6. Aphids in High Tunnel
Caste skins and honey
dew on plastic
Aphids and skins
on berry
• Biology: several aphid species increase on lower leaves and runners
soon after fall planting through spring harvest; multiple generations
• Damage: such sap from leaves, stems and fruit, excrete honey dew
(sooty mold), and molt leaving caste skins on leaves, plastic and fruit
• Monitor: weekly, check for aphids on underside of 10 lower leaflets
in 10 locations across planting (use 16X lens)

7. Aphids
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
10-Dec 24-Dec 7-Jan 21-Jan
No.aphids/leaflet
High Tunnel in Harrison, AR
• Set out 4 yellow sticky traps
• More aphids found on older leaves near
plastic than younger upper leaves and also
on runners
• Nearing 2 aphids / leaflet on 26 January

8. Aphids numbers differ
between 7 rows and
along each row
Row1
Row3
Row5
Row7
0
5
10
15
20
25
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
No.aphids/leaflet
Plant # from east door
NACC High Tunnel Festival (26 Jan. 2015)

9. Back Pack Air Blast Sprayer for
Good Leaf Coverage (both sides)
Treatment: If > 2 aphids, apply JMS Stylet Oil or insecticidal soap
or Naturalis O (Beauveria bassiana) (use air blast sprayer)

10. • Treatment: If < 2 aphids / leaflet, you can release natural enemies
• Release 1,000 wasps in aphid mummies 2-3 times at one week
intervals (@ $100 / 1,000 wasp parasitized mummies)
Sources: Arbico Organics, Biobest, Garden Warriors, Koppert,
Rincon-Vitova
• Parasitic wasp (Aphidius colemani)
As larva matures inside the aphid, the aphid dies, and turns into a
tan, round mummy
Adult wasp chews hole in mummy, feeds on honey dew and injects
eggs in aphids
Aphid Natural Enemies
(UC-IPM)

11. Aphid Natural Enemies
• Treatment: If < 2 aphids / leaflet, you can release natural
enemies; Experimental release 1,500 eggs or larvae /
tunnel Source: USDA-ARS Stoneville, MS (Dr. Eric Riddick)
• Predatory spotted lady beetle (Coleomegilla maculata) is
a North American native
• Plant pollen may constitute up to 50% of the diet

12. Releasing Lady Beetles
Aphid Natural Enemies
Release eggs or larvae of predatory spotted lady beetle
(Source: USDA-ARS
Stoneville, MS;
Dr. Eric Riddick)

13. NEW: Smartphone APP: MyIPM
Strawberry/Peach Diseases - conventional and organic management
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details
?id=edu.clemson.myIPM
Android version - Google Play
iOS version - Apple Store
Contact: Guido Schnabel, Clemson U.
Phone: 864 656 6705
Email: schnabe@clemson.edu

14. Bramble Pests in High Tunnel

15. Spider mites
Aphids
Spotted wing drosophila
Blackberry Pests In High Tunnel
Rednecked cane borer

16. Air blast Sprayer for
Good Coverage of Leaves
Wear spray suit, cover head, goggles, respirator

17. Spider Mites on Strawberry

18. Spider Mites in Raspberries
• Biology: by May, mites begin to buildup on lower cane leaves and
gradually move up cane to younger leaves; multiple generations
• Damage: suck chlorophyll sap from leaf cells = white stippling by
late-June which reduces yield / flavor and kills leaves
• Monitor: by May, begin weekly jarring mites off leaves showing
white stippling onto white plate (see moving specks) or use 16X
lens to count mites on underside of leaves

19. • Treatment:
 If < 2 mites / leaflet, release 1,000 predatory mites (N.
californicus) per tunnel weekly for 2 to 3 weeks until biological
control is achieved – this mite survives on pollen, and in warm
(50° - 105°F) humid (40% - 80% RH) conditions (@ $50 / 1,000
predotry mites)
 If > 2 aphids, apply JMS Stylet Oil or insecticidal soap (M-Pede)
to infested leaves at dusk to minimize phytotoxicity leaves
(do not apply above 90°F)
Spider Mites

20. Releasing Predatory Mites
Sources: Arbico Organics, Biobest,
Garden Warriors, Koppert,
Rincon-Vitova

21. Aphids on Blackberry
Monitor: from July to October for aphids, caste skins,
parasitized aphids and ants tending aphids on terminals
If ants tending aphids, no biological control possible by
releasing predatory beetles. May need to use
ant bait first to rid plants of aphid tending ants.

22. Aphid Reduction on Blackberry
• Monitored: 9, 11 and 18 June, collected 10
leaves of Prime-Ark 45 in each of six plots and
counted aphids
• Treatment: 9 June, applied JMS Stylet Oil with
air blast sprayer after collecting leaf samples
• Released: 11 June, spotted lady beetle larvae
(C. maculate) (1,090) and adults (538)
• Result: 22 June, found 1 spotted lady beetle
adult and nearly “0” aphids

23. • Treatment: Spraying JMS Stylet Oil and releasing lady
beetles reduced aphid numbers from > 10 to near “0”
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
6/9 6/10 6/11 6/12 6/13 6/14 6/15 6/16 6/17 6/18
Aphids on Blackberry Leaves in Short High Tunnel (2014)
HT 1 HT2 HT 3 HT 4 HT 5 HT 6No.aphids/leaf
Aphid Management

24. Rednecked Cane Borer
• Biology: larva girdles primocane
causing a gall, overwinter in
canes, emerge in May and lay
eggs on primocanes
• Damage: gall predisposes cane
for winter injury reducing yield
• Monitor: weekly in May, walk
rows looking for adults on
primocanes or check green
funnel traps

25. Rednecked Cane Borer
0
5
10
15
20
25
No.RNCBadults/greenfunneltrap
Rednecked Cane Borer (2014)
Avg. A. ruficollis (Clarksville)
Avg. A. ruficollis (Springdale)
Avg. A. ruficollis (Tontitown)
Treatment:
If < 5% galled canes, remove and destroy galled fruiting canes by bud break
If > 5% galled and adults present, apply weekly dusk sprays of JMS Stylet Oil
Oil is phytotoxic if applied when > 90°F

26. Insecticide Efficacy Against RNCB

27. SWD Information: http://comp.uark.edu/~dtjohnso/
Updated as needed

28. Identify Spotted Wing Drosophila
SWD
Vinegar fly
SWD
breathing
threads
(spiracles)

29. Active
Ingredient Trade name
IRAC
#
Blueberry Caneberry Strawberry
Probable
EfficacyPHI (days) PHI (days) PHI (days)
Carbaryl Sevin 80S 1A 7 7 7 Fair/Good
Methomyl Lannate LV 1A 3 Not labeled Not labeled Excellent
Phosmet Imidan 1B 3 Not labeled Not labeled Excellent
Malathion Malathion 1B 1 1 3
Excellent/
Good
Bifenthrin Brigade 3 1 3 0 Excellent
Esfenvalerate Asana 3 14 7 Not labeled Excellent
Fenpropathrin Danitol 3 3 3 2 Excellent
Zeta-
cypermethrin
Mustang
Max
3 1 1 Not labeled Excellent
Pyrethrin Pyganic* 3 0 0 0 Fair
Spinetoram Delegate 5 3 1 Not labeled Excellent
Spinetoram Radiant 5 Not labeled Not labeled 1 Excellent
Spinosad Entrust* 5 3 1 1 Excellent
Pick fruit daily, refrigerate instantly
(kills eggs in 2 to 3 days)
Do you have SWD-infested berries?
Check 30 harvested berries for
eggs/larvae with 20X hand lens or
soak fruit 30 minutes in 1 qt water +
either ¼ cup salt or ¾ cup sugar and
check for floating larvae.
• Check traps weekly for flies: 4 traps in edge
of planting at height of ripening fruit. Move
traps to next block of ripening fruit.
• Trap - 1 qt transparent cup with 20 holes
(3/16” diameter) around cup middle. Add red
and black 1” strips of tape.
• Add one of 2 recommended lures to trap.
1. Yeast bait = 32 oz water + 2 tbsp yeast + 4
tbsp sugar; let it ferment 1 day, then add 4
fl oz to trap OR
2. SWD dual lure - wire lures to the lid inside
the trap. Replace lures every 4 wks ($4.50
each; Great Lakes IPM; 1-800-235-0285).
• Trap fly drowning solution and lure -
weekly add ¾ cup apple cider vinegar to
trap – only for use with dual lures.
• Weekly, discard yeast bait or vinegar in trash.
For SWD fly confirmation, mail vial of flies to:
Ms. Barbara Lewis
AGRI 319, Department of Entomology
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701
If SWD flies are in trap and fruit is ripening, spray weekly, but reapply after
rain. Use insecticides with different IRAC # to delay SWD resistance.
3/16” holes
2 lures
Yeast bait or
vinegar drowning
solution w/dual lures

30. SWD Equipment & Trap Placement
SWD
Vinegar fly

31. SWD lay eggs mostly in ripe blackberry fruit
• Ripe blackberries > 11 °Brix = 100% infested
• Ripening blackberries = 9.4 °Brix = < 13% infested
• Unripe to green blackberries = < 7 °Brix = 0% infested
Springdale, AR 2014 ripe ripening unripe
12-Jul 100
14-Jul 100 13.3 0
21-Jul 80 6.7 0
28-Jul 50
4-Aug 93
11-Aug 95
% SWD infested wild blackberry

32. Management of SWD in 2015
1. Thin or open up canopy to improve spray coverage
2. Monitor traps weekly for SWD flies starting 3 wks before ripening
3. Spray if SWD found and fruit are ripening, apply recommended
insecticide every 5 to 7 days (re-apply after 1” rain) and rotate
mode of action to delay resistance development in SWD
4. Evaluate spray effectiveness = look for SWD eggs/larvae in fruit
5. Exclude SWD using screen or row cover (mesh = 1 mm holes)
6. Pick daily and refrigerate immediately to keep cold until
processed or eaten (2-3 days at 34⁰F kills SWD eggs)
7. Sanitation: pick leftover or damaged fruit and solarize in black
bags to reduce SWD food source
8. Stay informed – visit SWD web sites and attend grower meetings

33. Please: Fill Out 2014 SWD Impact Survey
• Participation in the survey is voluntary (conducted until early-March)
• The purpose of this survey is to collect information measuring the
impact of SWD on agricultural production.
• The responses will be used to prioritize research, extension, and
education activities for SWD.
• Survey data summarized by state, crop, farm size, or farm type
• Results available in mid-March 2015 at: swd.ces.ncsu.edu
• Ask questions about this survey by contacting Dr. Hannah Burrack
(hjburrac@ncsu.edu or 919.513.4344)
Survey also online at: http://swd.ces.ncsu.edu/2014/12/measuring-the-impacts-of-
spotted-wing-drosophila-in-2014-your-help-needed/

34. Can screens exclude and reduce
blueberry / bramble fruit infestation
by SWD?

35. Proteknet 80g exclusion netting and entry door
into blueberries exclude SWD, birds, mammals
and prevent hail damage
Dale Ila M. Riggs, The Berry Patch
of Stone Wall Hill Farm, LLC in
Stephentown, NY
New Liskeard, Ontario blueberries

36. Blueberries had much less SWD emerge from fruit in
planting covered with screen (80g = )
than uncovered planting (Control = )
Dale Ila M. Riggs, The Berry Patch

37. Screened Sides of High Tunnel
Recommend ProtekNet
screen mesh 80 g/m2 (80%
porosity) for better air flow
than 25 g/m2 screen (62%
porosity) (25 g screen
makes tunnel too hot –
needs venting)
Spotted wing drosophila trap

38. SWD Sprays to Field Brambles
• 7/15 Entrust WP (0.3 g/gal) raspberries
• 7/23 Pyganic EC 1.4 (1 oz/gal) raspberries
• 7/31 Entrust raspberries
• 8/6 Pyganic blackberries and raspberries
• 8/13 Entrust blackberries and raspberries
• 8/20 Pyganic blackberries and raspberries
• 8/26 Entrust blackberries and raspberries
• 9/4 Pyganic blackberries and raspberries
• 9/9 Entrust blackberries and raspberries
• 9/18 Pyganic blackberries and raspberries
• 9/24 Entrust blackberries and raspberries
• 10/4 Pyganic blackberries and raspberries

39. Screened (25g) high tunnel = 18 SWD flies, 0% infested blackberries
Outside = 924 SWD flies, > 60% infested blackberries
(Early-July to late-August in Fayetteville, AR 2014)
% infested fruit outside (0% in screened tunnel)
0 83 100 100 60 7 30

40. Watch for Broad Mite on Blackberry
• September 2007, 1st found small, cupped
leaves on terminals of primocane-fruiting
APF-46 blackberry
• 2013-14, broad mites reduced terminal leaf
size and caused leaf cupping in 3 fields in
Arkansas (June to November) – not sure
what OMRI products are effective
U of MN
2015, we will be testing miticides
0.1 mm long
(See w/ 20X lens)
(Photo: BARC-USDA)

41. Watch for Broad Mite Symptoms on Blackberry
July - Symptoms
HealthyUpward
cupping
Downward
cupping
October - Symptoms
Healthy
Damaged Healthy

42. Summary
• Correctly identify pests
• Monitor for pests by eye or 16X hand lens
–If foliar damage by cutworms, apply Bt spray
–If < 2 aphids or 2 mites / leaflet, release predators
–If > 2 aphids or 2 mites / leaflet apply JMS Stylet Oil by air blast
–Rednecked cane borer monitored by green funnel trap and
controlled with weeklky JMS Stylet Oil sprays
–Exclude spotted wing drosophila eggs (SWD) with screen
• Pick ripe berries daily and immediately refrigerate to kill SWD eggs;
exclude SWD flies with screen; rotate sprays of Entrust / Pyganic
• You may have broad mites = small cupped leaves on blackberries

43. Acknowledgements
Funding:
• USDA/SARE - Extending the market season with
high tunnel technology for organic fruit production
• AR Ag. Dept. and Extension IPM-SCBGP:
 Spotted wing drosophila

44. Acknowledgements
Cooperators:
 Co-PIs: Elena Garcia, Curt Rom, John Clark
 Barbara Lewis, Sam Kim, Clint Trammel, Jason McAfee, Luke
Freeman, Heather Friedrich, Cynthia Stewart, Philip Stewart, and
Kay Buck (UA Farm in Fayetteville)
 Taunya Ernst and Jeff Ness (Fruit Station in Clarksville)
 Clay Wingfield & Jessica Lefors (SWREC, Hempstead & Howard Co.)
 14 AR County Extension agents
 Berry growers