One of the products touted by Marrone Bio Innovations is
Grandevo, which I've have mentioned previously as a promising option for moths. Yet I never had reason to trial this organism product (being the microbial response of
Chromobacterium subtsugae to fermentation) since pure neem oil already keeps codling moth and company in good stead, by which I mean
low pressure, here in my northern New Hampshire orchard.
New information has been added to the product literature. Listed among targeted insects are San Jose Scale, Apple Maggot Fly, and Spotted Wind Drosophila. Indeed. This would be the material to rotate with spinosad to protect berries when SWD comes through at the height of summer. There's also a study showing activity on flea beetle (for ornamentals) which suggests to my mind other possible small beetle prospects. Mix things up and who knows?
The spray I just did was directed principally at Oyster Shell Scale (a species guess on my part) which has become relevant in the interior of my older trees. Now is purported to be good timing for scale as these insects come out of barnacle-mode and into the crawler stage in order to mate around this time. I included 1/2# of Grandevo (low rate), 2 ounces of Entrust, and 10# of Surround as part of the spray mix, being a half tank's worth, knowing curculio is still on the prowl. I used this on the plums and throughout the interior of the bigger apple trees. Additionally, I covered a hedgerow of highbush cranberry where the Viburnum Leaf Beetle is back for a second season of total destruction. Fingers crossed on that last one.
Let's weigh in how Grandevo actually does, folks. I'll definitely expect reports on its use for SWD. Keep in mind that as promising as all this seems, I've never heard anyone speak to its use as yet.
Lost Nation OrchardZone 4b in New Hampshire