Vespula pennsylvanica / maculiforna / germanica / vulgaris / squamosa and DolichovespulaThe dog days of summer…fresh water melon, ice cream, p
12.06.2023 - 01:06 / gardenerspath.com / Helga George
How to Identify and Control Walnut Husk Flies Rhagoletis completaWalnuts have entranced societies for thousands of years with their beauty and shade – not to mention their delectable and extremely healthy nuts and valuable wood.
However, there is a dark side to growing walnuts, and it comes in the form of a 1/4 inch long insect – the walnut husk fly (Rhagoletis completa).
This is the most common pest encountered in both backyard and commercial groves of walnut trees on the West Coast – and a serious problem for growers.
Technically, it’s the maggots that are the problem. They feed on the husk that surrounds the nut.
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The severity of the damage depends on when the larvae feed. It can range from the discoloration of the shell to the destruction of the kernel.
Even worse, the kernel may grow mold. You may think of mold as just unpleasant, but this kind of fungus produces a dangerous carcinogen called aflatoxin.
And the walnut husk fly is becoming an even more serious problem by showing up much earlier in the season than normal – before the growers are ready for it.
We at Gardener’s Path will walk you through the steps to monitor and protect your walnut tree – and when you will need to hire a professional pest control expert.
Identification, Life Cycle and DistributionThe walnut husk fly (WHF) looks so striking that it is easy to identify. It is the size of a housefly but brown with a yellow semicircle on its back. And then there are its unique translucent wings – with large brownish-black bands on them.
Adults emerge from the soil from May to early fall and mate within 1-2 weeks. The females then lay eggs just below the
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