Reduced Plum Curculio Numbers, Early

April 04, 2008

It's not uncommon following a year with major fruit losses for plum curculio numbers to be lower. This seems to be the case this spring. First capture of PC in our unmanaged block occurred on March 20th. Out of five traps we caught 2 curculio. One week later we caught one more. Typically the number would be elevating daily, with the exception of during the March 25th freeze. We had two days of colder weather that would have reduced PC activity.

Keep in mind that since each female can produce 200-300 eggs the number can expand rapidly. I would expect under poor control conditions higher numbers would then show up as 1st generation adults during late May early June.

Good early season control could be obtained from alternate row insecticide applications. However, with more frequent rainfall emphasis on disease control and getting good fungicide coverage will mean not starting any alternate row sprays until 3-4 weeks after shuck-split. This would be after control measures for "peach scab" have been made. Petal fall early shuck-split is the time scab control should begin. With the exception of north Alabama, most peach cultivars are at stages for both scab and plum curculio control.

Where freeze damaged fruit remained in orchards, disease pressure will likely be higher this season when adequate moisture is available. Right now in many areas of Alabama we are getting frequent showers.