Spotted-wing drosophila (SWD) is the number one insect pest issue for cherry growers. Active research around the management of SWD includes: 1) continuing studies involving parasitoids of SWD, 2) modeling abiotic drivers of SWD phenology and development in collaboration with the Isaacs Lab at MSU, 3) evaluating and improving the attraction of RNAi-based insecticide in collaboration with the Duman-Scheel Lab at Indiana University, and 4) evaluation of sterile male SWD technology in collaboration with Agragene. This work is funded in part by grants from the MSU AgBioResearch Agricultural Resiliency Program, USDA-NIFA-CPPM-ARDP, USDA-APHIS, and the Michigan Cherry Committee.

Woolly apple aphids are a worldwide pest wherever apples are grown, but historically have been considered a secondary pest in Michigan. However, in some years, growers really complain about this pest and struggle to manage it. We are taking a close look at its phenology and distribution in Michigan and re-evaluating management strategies. Funded by MSU Project GREEEN and the Michigan Apple Committee.

Looking at the orchard as a whole, we are evaluating the carbon balance of different orchard systems including estimating carbon sequestration and emissions associated with pest management practices. This work is funded in part by Nestle-Gerber and the Michigan Tree Fruit Commission, and a related output, the MSU Extension Bulletin E-3533, Michigan Apple Cost of Production 2025 was funded in part by a grant from the MDARD Specialty Crop Block Grant program.

We are also evaluating the utility of deep-rooted native grasses in orchard row middles as an alternative practice to planting shallow-rooted grasses to prevent soil erosion and provide traction, increase soil carbon sequestration, improve soil health, and decrease soil compaction. This project is funded in part by Nestle-Gerber via the Michigan Tree Fruit Commission.

Extended growing seasons and erratic weather can make it more difficult to predict key life stages, which makes it more difficult to time interventions. This project will compare nearly two decades of historical data collected on crop and orchard pest phenologies with current abiotic trends to develop and/or improve forecasting models. Improved models are the key to effective and sustainable pest management programs. This is in collaboration with the Einhorn Lab and MSU Enviroweather and is funded in part by MSU Project GREEEN.

Ambrosia beetles are a difficult pests to manage because they live much of their lives inside the trunks of their host tree. These borers generally respond to stressed or wounded trees, and so we are investigating strategies that either repel or interfere with plant host cues or mate finding in orchards. This work is being funded in part by the MDARD Farm Innovation Grant program and the Michigan Apple Committee.

We are currently evaluating new technologies and strategies for monitoring and management of codling moth, which continues to be the most important arthropod pest in apple orchards.

For improving monitoring, we are evaluating smart traps to determine whether they can provide greater accuracy for setting biofix; we are also comparing research-ideal vs. grower-“hack” placement of lures.

For improved management, we are running a factorial study at Trevor Nichols Research Center comparing codling moth management in plots with or without pheromone mating disruption overlaid with a program that emphasizes biopesticides over conventional pesticides, and threshold-driven vs. model-based applications.

These studies are funded in part by the MSU AgBioResearch Agricultural Resiliency Program, a grant from the USDA-NIFA-SCRI program, and the Michigan Apple Committee.