C A L I F O R N I A
Vegetables A SPECIAL GROWERS’ REPORT OF AG ALERT ®
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Lygus bugs are particularly damaging to strawberries. Researchers at the Strawberry Center at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, have developed an improved vacuum to remove them from plants.
New vacuummay doom lygus bugs in strawberries ByBob Johnson A space-age-looking tractor with barrels in the front and to the side of the rig could revolutionize the use of vacuums to remove lygus bugs fromstrawberry plants. When the barrels are folded into position, themachine can suck pests from four rows of strawberries in a single pass as it rumbles across a field.
“I’ve been called out to see 100% loss in July and August,” saidMark Bolda, University of California Cooperative Extension farmadvisor based inWatsonville. “It looks like an aphid butmoves around a lot faster. It causes catfacing or twisted fruit.” While thevacuumwasdevelopedtomanage lygusbugs, StrawberryCenter researchhas shown it can also remove 70%of the spotted-wing drosophila in a single pass. Spotted-wing drosophila, also known as the cherry vinegar fly, lays its eggs inside soft fruit, leading to an unsightlymess when the larvae emerge. There are three types of barrels available for the lygus bug vacuum: C&Nplastic barrel, the Cal Poly aluminumbarrel and the classic standard barrel. The unit, which can be attached to a standard tractor, can be purchased or rented at C&NTractor outlets. A detailed description of the bug vacuum is available on the Cal Poly Strawberry Center website. In addition to themore powerful vacuum, Lin has also taken the lead in researching a mechanical runner trimmer that has the potential to save growers substantial amounts of money. According toUCDavis’ 2021SampleCosts toProduceandHarvest Strawberries, runner
The new high-powered bug vacuum was developed at the Strawberry Center at California Polytechnic StateUniversity, San LuisObispo. It can vacuummore powerfully and inhale farmore pests than earlier bug vacuums. “This is a four-row system that moves more air and removes 2.3 times more lygus bugs than earlier bug vacuums,” said John Lin, production automationmanager at the Strawberry Center. Lin is part of the research team assembled at the Strawberry Center, as part of a 9-year-old collaborationbetweenCal Poly and theCalifornia Strawberry Commission. Hemade his remarks as researchers discussed promising new tools for lygusmanage- ment during the annual strawberryproduction researchmeetingheldonline lastmonth. Lygus bugs damage berries by feeding on the seeds, resulting inmisshapen fruit that cannot bemarketed. Damaged berries are referred to as being catfaced. Growers previously managed the pest with malathion, but resistance has become widespread and lygus can grow to epidemic levels by the summer.
See LYGUS, Page 14
March 16, 2022 Ag Alert 13
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