Apple Maggot Host Reduction Project

Project Introduction

Partnering Agencies

• Washington State Department of Agriculture
• North Yakima Conservation District
• USDA-ARS
• Washington State University
• Yakima County and Chelan County

Importance

• It currently costs $500,000 annually to manage the apple maggot and each year the cost of controlling invasive pests continues to rise.
• $220,000 Grant over two years to prove the feasibility of host removal and replacement
• Reducing Alternative Hosts is a better method of pest management
• Cost of this strategy is high initially.  After 5 years is less costly than sprays.
• Habitat Manipulation is an effective and more ecologically sound method of pest management.
• It is beneficial to commercial growers by reducing trade barriers and removing hosts causing trouble for growers.

Goals

• Reduced Pest Population
• Reduced Spray Applications
• Reduced Apple Maggot Detections
• Increased Profitabiltiy
• Attain/Maintain “Pest Free Status”

Outcomes

Pest Management Fact Sheets

Fruit Pest Management Tips: Recognizing Western Cherry Fruit Fly Rhagoletis indifferens (PDF)

Home Orchard Fruit Pest Management Tips: Recognizing Apple Maggot Rhagoletis pomonells (PDF)

Home Orchard Fruit Pest Management Tips: Codling Moth vs Apple Maggot (PDF)

Fruit Pest Management Tips:  Recognizing Walnut Husk Fly Rhagoletis completa (PDF)

Website Resources

Hortsense Fact Sheet Apple:  Apple Maggot

Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbook – Apple:  Apple Maggot Rhagoletis polmonella

Using Integrated Pest Management in the Landscape

Removal of Neglected Hawthorn and Fruit Trees

• Done in partnership with landowners
• Host tree is removed and replacement trees are planted of equal or greater ecological value