California Pink Bollworm Control Program 2011/2012 Update

California Pink Bollworm Control Program 2011/2012 Update

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) participates in the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Area Wide Pink Bollworm (PBW) Eradication Program. The CDFA PBW program follows the protocols established by USDA to prevent the establishment and spread of PBW. CDFA uses survey trapping, pheromone application for mating disruption, sterile PBW moth releases, crop cultural control, and in Southern California the use of one hundred percent transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton. These techniques have proven to be very successful in California; in 2011 a total of two non-sterile PBW moths were trapped in California (one in the San Joaquin Valley and one in Imperial Valley). In 2012, California entered into year one of a four year eradication confirmation phase. CDFA has halted sterile PBW moth releases in the San Joaquin Valley and reduced the area treated with sterile moths in Southern California as it attempts to confirm eradication. CDFA continues extensive survey trapping in all cotton growing areas, the use of one hundred percent Bt cotton planting in Southern California, ongoing cotton plow down requirements in all areas and pheromone treatments in susceptible areas, such as okra acreage in Southern California. To date, no native/wild type moths were trapped in California in 2012.