Winter almond orchard cleanup: Your guide to mummy nut sanitation and Navel Oreangeworm control
The leaves have fallen, harvest is complete, and your orchard is settling in for the winter. But don't let the quiet fool you – there's still work to be done! Winter is the perfect time to get a head start on pest management for next season, and that means focusing on Winter Mummy Nut Sanitation
What are Mummy Nuts and Why Do They Matter?
Mummy nuts are the dried-up, leftover nuts that remain in your almond trees after harvest. Navel orangeworm (NOW) overwinter inside mummy nuts, ready to emerge and infest your orchard come spring.
Mummy nuts hanging in blooming almond tree with white blossoms
The Importance of Winter Sanitation
Removing mummy nuts in winter months decreases the abundance of NOW present in the orchard that will emerge first generation next spring. This proactive approach reduces overwintering emergence, egg laying locations during the first flight and promotes a more sustainable approach to pest management.
Pheromone mating disruption works best on low to moderate pest populations. Winter sanitation is a crucial step in maintaining low NOW populations.
Winter sanitation partnered with ISOMATE NOW Mist pheromone mating disruption provides a robust solution that has shown to have a >70% reduction in harvest injury, mummy infestation, and egg laying.
Your Winter Sanitation Checklist
Scout Your Trees: Before bloom, carefully examine 20 trees per block to assess mummy nut density.
Take Action: If you find an average of 2 or more mummies per tree, it's best to remove them!
Removal Methods:
Shaking: Give those trees a good shake to dislodge the mummies.
Poling: Use a long pole to knock down those stick tight mummies.
Ground Cleanup: By early spring, destroy any mummies on the ground by blowing the strips and mowing. This prevents NOW from completing their life cycle.
Benefits of Winter Sanitation
Reduced NOW populations: Fewer mummies mean fewer NOW to emerge and infest your orchard.
Improved nut quality: Minimize NOW damage for a higher-quality harvest.
Increased profitability: Reduced pest pressure leads to better yields and higher returns.
Mummy nuts on orchard ground between irrigation lines with almond trees in background
Pacific Biocontrol: Your Partner in Pest Management
Pacific Biocontrol is dedicated to supporting growers with effective and sustainable pest management solutions. We provide resources and pheromone expertise to help implement best practices, like Winter Mummy Nut Sanitation, for a thriving orchard.
Contact your local Pacific Biocontrol technical sales representative today to learn more about ISOMATE NOW Mist and how we can help you achieve your orchard goals!