Lacewing IPM clinics scheduled for June

ROYAL CITY — The results of a three-year trial to test the use of lacewings to control orchard pests will be the subject of three field days in North Central Washington in late June. The clinic is free.  

Tianna DuPont, tree fruit extension specialist for Washington State University Extension in Wenatchee, said researchers wanted to see if lacewings could be another tool in the toolbox for growers.  

“The goal of this project is to develop those best management practices for the release of lacewings to improve the control of aphids and mealy bugs in apple orchard,” DuPont said. “We're looking at the best timings, rates, life stages of the lacewings to release, so that we can incorporate those releases into your IPM program. And particularly of interest to growers, is looking at an assessment of drone releases, whether that can be as effective as hand releases, in order to make these releases more cost effective.” 

Clinics are scheduled for 9 to 10:30 a.m. June 24 at an orchard on Watson Draw Road north of Pateros; 9 to 10:30 a.m. at CRO Orchards, about 10 miles south of Rock Island and from 3 to 4:40 p.m. at Dain Craver Orchards, 111 Road D SW in Royal City. 

“Participants will observe lacewing release demonstrations including by hand, four-wheeler and drone. A hands-on activity will allow participants to learn about beat tray recovery of lacewing larvae,” DuPont wrote in a press release.  

Rebecca Schmidt-Jeffris, the project lead, and other speakers will talk about the research results and the best ways to put it into practice. Subjects include the best species of lacewing to release, the best time to release them and which sprays are compatible.   

Schmidt-Jeffris will be joined by Chuck Weaver of GS Long/ParaBug and growers from each orchard, including Mike Brown of Gebbers Farms, Teah Smith of Zirkle Fruit and Dain Craver of Dain Craver Orchards.  

“Each separate event contains the same content in different locations,” DuPont said.  

The project was funded through a USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education grant project.