Entrapment CK provides superior navel orangeworm control on almonds

Navel orangeworm (NOW) is the most important insect pest on almonds. Many almond growers practice insecticide resistance management strategies. Attune Agriculture conducted a trial in Terra Bella, CA in 2023 evaluating Entrapment CK with a popular rotation strategy utilizing chemical insecticides.

Navel orangeworm eggs are laid directly on the nut after hull split. The larvae hatch and bore into the nut and begin feeding. It is important to note that the only time a foliar insecticide is effective is between egg hatch till the larvae bores into the nut. Once in the nut, most insecticides have no activity. There are typically 3 moth flights per season. Most growers spray at least two times. Growers with varieties that have later hull split may require 3 sprays. 

The most widely used system is a rotation of insecticides with different modes of action. A popular rotation uses Altacor® (chlorantraniliprole), Intrepid® (methoxyfenoxide), and Delegate® (spinetoram). Each of these products is from a different chemical class with different mode of actions (chlorantraniliprole is a diamide, methoxyfenoxide is an insect growth regulator and spinetoram is a spinosyn).

Attune evaluated Entrapment CK compared to the leading navel orangeworm insecticides described above. Each treatment was applied to a single tree with a Stihl Mist Blower using a 100 gallon per acre spray volume, which was replicated four times.  

The navel orangeworm infestation was extremely high, requiring 3 insecticide applications. Entrapment CK was evaluated in two ways. It was used in rotation (Altacor for the 1^st spray, Entrapment CK for the 2^nd spray and Delegate for the 3^rd spray) and compared with Altacor/Intrepid/Delegate. Entrapment CK was also evaluated when used for all three insecticide applications. The applications were initiated when there was 1% hull split. Twenty eight days after the 3^rd spray, 250 nuts were randomly collected from each tree (1000 nuts per treatment), cracked and examined for navel orangeworm damage.

The Altacor/Entrapment CK/Delegate rotation provided a 34.0% greater reduction in nut damage compared to the Altacor/Intrepid/Delegate rotation. Entrapment CK applied for all three sprays was the best performing treatment, providing a 57.3% greater reduction in nut damage than Altacor/Intrepid/Delegate and 8.9% greater than Altacor/Entrapment CK/Delegate.

This trial demonstrates that Entrapment CK is effective in reducing nut damage whether it is used in rotation or as a standalone treatment.