Growers and pest control advisers have been observing increasing injury to developing almond trees, such as aborted and dropped nuts, caused by brown marmorated stink bug. Brown marmorated stink bug feeding damage resembles feeding damage caused by leaffooted bug and other native stink bugs. Appropriate management practices depend on correct identification, as well as knowing if brown marmorated stick bugs are in the orchard.

Area IPM Advisor Jhalendra Rijal stars in Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB): Identification and Monitoring in Almond Orchards, produced by Ria DeBiase and Petr Kosina. The video describes how to identify and monitor for brown marmorated stink bug to inform management decisions.

In another video produced by the UC IPM team, Farm Advisor David Haviland describes Monitoring Sixspotted Thrips for Spider Mite Control in Almond Orchards. Spider mites damage almond foliage by sucking cell contents from leaves. Predators, especially sixspotted thrips, can reduce mite numbers to prevent economic damage and their monitoring is an important component of spider mite management program in almond. 

UC IPM teams up with Cooperative Extension advisors and specialists to develop instructional, how-to videos. These videos can help growers and pest control advisers monitor for pests and determine if management is needed. You can find these instructional videos on the UC IPM video library webpage in addition to UC IPM’s YouTube channel. For specific information about managing pests in nuts or other crops, visit the UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines. Learn more about Rijal’s brown marmorated stink bug research in the 2019 UC IPM Highlights.

Also, did you know that UC IPM has over 35 helpful home and garden videos? Go to the video library or YouTube channel to watch, learn, and do!