Postharvest disinfestation following field control
The effectiveness and type of postharvest disinfestation used depend on the type of insect and numbers on flowers. With an effective field spraying program the insect load on flowers will be low. This will increase the success of the postharvest system.
Remember that quarantine entry controls are very strict in Japan and USA and it only takes one insect in a carton to cause rejection.
For insects with tough outer casings such as beetles it may be necessary to remove the insects from flowers prior to postharvest disinfestation treatment. A dipping system with recirculating pump and filtration is also useful for flowers with beetles present as it washes insects off. If an aerosol system is used then field removal of beetles is necessary.
| 1 | Regularly check for small galls caused by the gall wasp and remove any infected branches. |
| 2 | Check the base of stems just below the soil surface for ringbark weevil damage and drench with insecticide if discovered. |
| 3 | Regularly check for leaf tip webbing moth larvae from March onward and spray with a pyrethroid as required. |
| 4 | From September onwards check insect number, particularly thrips. Once numbers exceed 10 per bunch spray weekly until stem harvesting is complete. |
| 5 | Be on the lookout (particularly during October) for scarab beetle infestations and use knockdown insecticide to remove beetles before harvest. |
| 6 | At pruning remove and dispose of any gall-affected stems from bushes to prevent reinfection by the wasp. |