Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The meeting was called to order by Marvin Harris at 9:05 AM in the Soccorro Room of the Las Cruces Hilton. First order of business was to select a site to the 2003 S-293 meeting. Oklahoma City, OK was chosen and the S-293 meeting will be held in conjunction with the Southwestern Branch Meeting of the ESA. Second order of business was to nominate a new secretary. Phil Mulder nominated David Shapiro-Ilan, seconded by Ted cottrell and David Shapiro-Ilan was unanimously elected. Officers for S-293 during 2002-2003 are as follows: Michael Hall, chairman, Ted Cottrell, vice-chair, David Shapiro-Ilan, secretary.

Marvin Harris asked Jim Dutcher to report on the symposium titled "Integration of Chemical and Biological Insect Control in Native, Seedling, and Improved Pecan Production" held at the 2001 annual meeting of ESA. [Papers presented in the symposium are to be submitted to the Southwestern Entomologist for peer review]. Jim reported that he has received 8 of 12 manuscripts and he will not submit the group of manuscripts to the Southwestern Entomologist until all manuscripts are in. Jim set March 15 as the last day to get manuscripts to him. Phil Mulder asked how the manuscripts would be presented in the Southwestern Entomologist and Jim replied that they would appear as a supplement to the SW Entomologist.

The next order of business involved a discussion of the project by objective:

Objective 1: Improve monitoring and management techniques for hickory shuckworm, pecan nut casebearer, pecan weevil and kernel-feeding hemipterans.

Various members in attendance reported on pecan research results pertaining to monitoring of hickory shuckworm, pecan weevil, pecan nut casebearer, phylloxera, cerambycids, buprestids and kernel-feeding hemipterans. Emphasis was placed on improving detection of pests and estimating their abundance through use of new attractants, trap designs and trapping methodology.

Objective 2: Develop and integrate biointensive IPM through crop profiling, habitat diversification, host plant resistance and biological control.

Reports are made on kernel damage by hemipterans to different pecan varieties and that host plant resistance may alleviate this problem. Supplemental nitrogen applied to orchards may decrease hickory shuckworm damage but generally increased aphid and mite abundance. Trap crops may help to control stink bugs in orchards. Reports also included information on PNCB models beging used in Texas and Oklahoma, attract-and-kill studies for PNCB management, management of pecan weevil with Beauveria bassiana and entomopathogenic nematodes, release of imported green lacewing spp. in pecan orchards, use of mini-insectaries to sustain Trichogramma populations in pecan orchards, evaluation of alternative pecan aphid control products (Surround particle film, Talcum powder and Habanero pepper extact), screeing of entomopathogenic fungi against pecan aphids, and studies showing that alfalfa fields act as natural insectaries for various natural enemies to move into pecan. Orchard soil profiling revealed differences in numbers of pecan weevils between soil types.


Objective 3: Develop pesticide management strategies to conserve and optimize insecticide efficacy for currently registered insecticides and integrate reduced-risk pesticides into pecan management.

Reports included information from studies evaluating conventional insecticides and newer ‘soft‘ chemistry against pecan pests. Researchers commented on efficacy of various insecticide combinations and rates that provided economical control of pest species. Many of the new insecticides can provide for good control against certain pecan pest while not harming beneficial insects within the orchard. Reduced spray programs for pecean weevil are being tested.

The goal of the S-293 regional project is to provide pecan growers with the means to monitor and economically manage arthropods pests of pecan. Methods for improved pest detection have been developed that lead to responsible application of insecticides based upon pest populations and economic thresholds. Introduction of biorational insecticides and development of biological control methods five growers management tools that will provide for continued pecan production.

Members of the S-293 regional project will continue to evaluate methods of pest detection with a focus on improving existing methods. Pest management will be improved with safer and fewer insecticide and through biological control utilizing pathogens and natural enemies.

Cottrell, T.E. 2001. Improved trap capture of Euschistus servus and Euschistus tristigmus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in pecan orchards. Flor. Entomol. 84: 731-732.

Cottrell, T.E. and P.G. Mulder. 2001. Circle trunk traps for monitoring pecan weevil emergence. The Pecan Grower 13:27

Cottrell, T.E., Jeremy K. Greene, and G.A. Herzog. 2001. Seasonal occurrence of brown and dusky stink bugs across agricultural landscapes. Proceedings of the Southeastern Pecan Growers Association 94: 77-81.

Dutcher, J.D., R.E. Worley, P. Conner, and S. Dove. 2001. Pecan varietal differences in Hemipteran kernal damage. J. Engomol. Sci. 36: 445-452.

Dutcher, J.D. 2002. Impact of insects on pecan nut drop from nut set to shell-hardening. J. Entomol. Sci (in press, accepted 10/22/01).

Dutcher, J.D. 2001. Advances in Pecan Pest Management. Research Spotlight. The Pecan Grower. 12(3): 16-17.

Dutcher, J.D. 2001. Pecan Variety is an Important Factor in Kernel Spot Caused By Stink Bugs and Leaffootted Bugs. Research Spotlight. The Pecan Grower. 12(4): 20-21.

Dutcher, J.D. 2001. Technology Transfer is Important to a Successful Pecan Crop. Research Spotlight. The Pecan Grower. 13(1): 13.

Dutcher, J.D. 2001. Interactions Impact Pecan Insect Control in 2001. Research Spotlight. The Pecan Grower. 13(2): 25.

Grantham, R.A., P.G. Mulder, G.W. Cupersus. 2002. Comparisons on the efficacy of different trap types in capturing pecan nut casebearer, acrobasis nuxvorella. SW Entomologist. In press.

Grantham, R.A., P.G. Mulder, G.W. Cupersus, and J.D. Carlson. 2002. evaluation and assessment of phenological models for pecan nut casebearer Acrobasis nuxvorella Neunzig (Lepidopter: Pyralidae) using pheromone traps. In Press. Accepted for publication 1/10/02.

Mulder, P.G. 2001. Possible alternatives for pecan weevil control. Are organic pecans on the horizon? 13(2): 42-43.

Mulder, P.G. 2001. Pecan phylloxera season is upon us. Okla. Pecan Growers Assoc. 42(2): 2-6.

Mulder, P.G. 2001. Prepare for pecan nut casebearer season. Okla. Pecan Growers Assoc. 42(2): 4.

Mulder, P.G. 2001. Suggestions for use of pecan weevil Circle traps. Okla. Pecan Growers Assoc. 42(3): 7.

Petersen, M.K. and M.S. Hunter. 2001. Variation in the outcome of competition between two aphid species on pecan: Plants matter more than predators. Oikos 92: 107-118.

Petersen, M.K. and M.S. Hunter. 2002. Ovipositional preference and larval - early adult performance of two generalist lacewing predators of aphids in pecans. (In press) Biological Control.

McVay, J.R. 2001. Low-impact Pecan Insect Management: Another Fork in the IPM Highway. In B. Pass [ed.] 2001 Integrated Pest Management in the Southern Region.

Reid, W. 2001. Sawflies attack. Oklahoma Pecan Growers Newsletter 42(3): 7.

Reid, W. 2001. Advanced pest management systems for pecans. Abstract. HortScience 36: 481.

Shapiro-Ilan, D.I. 2001. The potential for microbial control of the pecan weevil: questions and answers. The Pecan Grower 12: 19.

Shapiro-Ilan, D.E., B. Wood, W. Gardner, J. Fuxa, T. Cottrell, M. Hall, K. Nguyen, and B. Adams. 2001. Research toward microbial control of the pecan weevil. Proceedings of the Southeastern Pecan Growers Association 94: 116-121.