NOW is Our Insect of Discontent...

My apologies to William Shakespeare...

On a more serious note, the Navel Orangeworm (NOW) is a high-risk pest and is a huge problem for almond and pistachio growers. The NOW bores its way into the nut, feeding on the nut-meal and eventually destroying it. At first, the damage is minimal, only a visible pin-head shaped hole is bored, then the damage becomes more extensive as the pest grows leaving behind much webbing and frass. What’s more, the pest leaves an opening for other contaminants or infestations to come in, such as Aspergillus mold, which in turn creates aflatoxin: poisonous carcinogens for animals and humans. Aflatoxin is a very big concern for food safety issues and the FDA monitors levels of aflatoxin in foods, recalling them when necessary. Studies have shown that they are more harmful to children, causing many health issues, whereas adults have a higher tolerance to acute aflatoxicosis. Although there have been no aflatoxin outbreaks or cases in the United States, it is a bigger concern in developing countries.

Paramount Farming Co,. of Bakersfield has estimated NOW damages reaching as high as $10-15 million in certain years and with 800,000 acres of pistachios in the state of California, the damage statewide, or nation-wide is huge. In orchards, under mating disruptions, traps baited with sex pheromone lures for monitoring male moths are useless. The new lure for use in mating disruption orchards developed by Alpha Scents attracts both male and females. This new lure will better aid effective pest management decisions. While monitoring with the new improved lure from Alpha Scents can help monitor the pest population, sound cultural practices including removing rotting or mummified fruit left on trees or on the orchard floor, can help reduce NOW pressure on your crop.