The agricultural technology center of Chungnam has announced that the optimal timing for winter pest control in pear orchards is from February 25 to March 1, which is six days earlier than last year due to favorable climatic conditions.
The Chungnam Agricultural Technology Center has stated that from February 25 to March 1, pear orchards in the Chungnam area should carry out winter pest control, which is six days earlier than the previous year. This early timing is attributed to this February's average temperature being 5.5 degrees Celsius, slightly higher than the usual 5.4 degrees, and a consistently warm weather pattern that has encouraged winter pests to emerge and reproduce more readily than in previous years.
According to the center's data, common winter pests in spring pear orchards include the pear psylla, scale insects, and spider mites. The pear psylla, in particular, feeds on the sap of young leaves and excretes a sticky substance that can impede photosynthesis in pear trees, making timely pest control critical. The adults emerge from their winter shelters and can begin to move onto the trees, particularly when daytime temperatures exceed 6 degrees Celsius for more than 12 days, leading to reproduction when temperatures persist above 25 degrees Celsius.
The optimal timing for controlling these pests occurs when approximately 80% of the overwintering adults move onto the trees (typically between February 16 and 20 when daytime temperatures rise above 6 degrees). The technology center anticipates an earlier migration and reproduction of the pear psylla compared to last year and the average, thereby emphasizing that effective control measures starting on February 25 will be essential. Experts recommend using a diluted mineral oil solution that penetrates the tree bark effectively for pest control, particularly in orchards recovering from various stresses like disease or frost damage.
