![]() ![]() Shell seal can vary greatly from year to year depending on variety, crop size, and horticultural practices. Damage is lower on varieties that have nuts with tight shell seal, as the seal limits an access to the nut. The ants can completely hollow out nutmeats leaving only the pellicle. This usually occurs with limbs that touch the ground giving ants easy access to hullsplit nuts. The primary factors that influence damage include the population of ants in the orchard and the length of time the nuts are left on the ground to dry. In only a few instances will ants climb into trees to feed on nuts. Lack of weeds makes bait easier to find and some weed seeds may be a more attractive food source for ants than baits.ĭamage on almonds occurs when the nuts are on the ground, after being shaken from the tree. In order to maximize bait acceptance, it is best if weeds are well controlled. ![]() Good weed management is an important factor in managing ants. ![]() Also, damaging species will often be found with weeds growing within the nest and are easily excited by disturbing the soil near their nests. Fire ants can also be a safety issue for workers and PCAs in the field, as the ant will aggressively bite and sting.įire ants are more prevalent in drip- or sprinkler-irrigated orchards than flood-irrigated orchards. In addition to fire ants, pavement ant can also cause significant damage, especially in the northern San Joaquin Valley. In California the fire ant species (Imported and Native) are considered the most damaging to nut crops. Historical experience with ant populations can be a good indicator for growers to determine if they are likely to have a problem species in the orchard. Managing ants and the damage they cause continues to be a difficult problem for almond farmers. ![]()
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