An adult leaffooted bug

Evaluations of Varietal Susceptibility to Leaffooted Bug Damage in Almonds

COLLABORATORS:  Mario Viverios, UCCE Kern Co., Tom Gradziel, UC Davis

Leaffooted bug eggs

Leaffooted bug is a native, seed-feeding insect that is best known for the damage it causes to pistachios.  However, in 2006, extreme numbers of leaffooted bug also caused significant damage to almonds throughout the lower San Joaquin Valley.

Various instars of the leaffooted bug

For almond producers, much of 2006 was spent just trying to figure out what happened and why it happened.  Some growers lost more than half of the crop on some of their more susceptible varieties of nuts.  The main objective of this project was to document what happened in the hope that information could be developed to help prevent it from happening again, and/or to improve the ability of growers to deal with it if it does happen again.

We documented large differences in varietal susceptibility to leaffooted bug damage.  Data has allowed us to identify the types of damage caused by this pest, and the relative susceptibility of 15 commonly planted varieties to this damage.

Gumosis on hull from leaffooted bug feeding

Nuts damaged mid-season by leaffooted bug feeding

Leaffooted bug damage to almonds early season to mid season (top to bottom)

Links

Field Evaluations of Varietal Susceptibility to Damage by Leaffooted Bug 2008 (52K pdf)

Leaffooted Bugs in Almonds: Think Before you Spray this Season (552K pdf)

Leaffooted Bug Poster (2006 Almond Industry Conference) (107K pdf)