If you have almond trees in your garden, or have a plantation of them, pests are something you don’t want near your home. Specifically one of them the almond wasp. Do you know her? Do you know how deadly it can be?
Discover below all the characteristics of this pest as well as the symptoms and the solutions that can be given to control it. Shall we start?
Contents
How is the almond wasp
Source_Agricultural minute
The first thing you should know about the almond wasp is that a few years ago it did not exist in Spain. In fact, the first time he was located was in 2010 in Albacete. And with the passage of time, it was distributed throughout the country.
Its scientific name is Eurytoma amygdali Enderlein, and it is a Wasp. It is a wasp but with a completely black body. They measure about four to six mm in males, and between seven and eight in females. Also, they have a very short lifespan, but they can do a lot of damage in that short amount of time.
During this time, it is able to consume not only the exterior of the almond tree, but the interior as well. Indeed, it lays its eggs in the fruits so that, when they hatch, the larvae can break the shell of the almond tree and thus feed on what is inside. Speaking of eggs, you should know that they measure between 0.3 and 0.4 mm, smooth in appearance and white in color. Inside are caterpillar larvae that can measure about ten mm. They are grayish-white in color and have no legs.
Almond Wasp Life Cycle
The life cycle of this pest is more or less than a year, or even two if we are talking about a temperate climate. Before, we told you about the wasp larva, how it comes out, pierces the almond and feeds on its pulp. This happens during summer and winter, so that at the end of winter the caterpillars become pupae, and in spring and summer they will be adults.
This is when they leave the almond tree and start looking for their mate and laying eggs for the cycle to begin.
Females are capable of laying between fifty and one hundred eggs, normally one or two eggs per grain, and these they only take ten or twenty days to come out.
What symptoms does the wasp cause from the almond tree to the tree?
If you have almond trees and you are concerned that this pest is making its own, know that there are several symptoms to be aware of:
- Empty almonds: not only that they are empty, but also that they are smaller than normal, that they have a brown color… Indeed, since they do not fall from the tree, it is common for them to turn black during the winter. But if in the spring you see that it also has a hole, there is no doubt that there is a danger of these wasps there.
- Visually: that is, you see a lot of wasps around the tree or near the fruit. Because it can make you realize that something is wrong (and if you also see them up close and identify them as an almond wasp, you will have no doubts).
The biggest symptom is going to be the almonds. In fact, when they are collected, it is advisable to check each of them to see if they have some kind of hole or white spot to discard immediately because most likely it has a larva. Actually, can be opened to search for it. They must be burned so that it does not reach its adult stage and thus minimize the plague.
what does this pest do
Source_Phytoma
As we have already told you, The almond wasp is able to feed and kill the tree both indoors and outdoors. But the normal thing is that it only affects the fruits. Now that involves the loss of the harvest.
This can mean a great economic loss for those who devote themselves to the cultivation of the almond tree. In the case of a garden, the appearance of this pest can deprive you of almonds for your own consumption. But you also face a bigger problem: having wasps in your home. With children or even pets, it becomes a hazard.
In general, the almond tree would be fine, as it would not affect your health, although it may cause problems and make it start giving less almonds or having more weaknesses against other parasites.
What to do against this scourge
If you have confirmed that you have an almond wasp, it’s time to get to work and it should be done as soon as possible so as not to damage the tree itself.
You can take several actions. Among them are the following:
- Dispose of infected fruit. It’s not easy, but it could be done to prevent these larvae from reaching the end and can cause the pest to be around for a long time. The best thing with them is that you burn them. Knowing that almond trees can be harvested in late summer or early fall, detecting them in time will reduce the pest itself.
- Use chemical treatments. The problem is that these are only effective on adult plague, it does not affect the larvae, so it is almost used in prevention. There are several treatments, many of which are recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment. You will only have to take a look to find out which ones would be the most effective.
- Set traps. These will allow you to catch the wasps from the almond trees and thus be able to get rid of them so that they do not lay eggs in the trees. These can be bought, but also made at home and will help you eliminate the plague. They are based on the application of insecticides or contact treatments that would kill this wasp in seconds.
Now that you have more information about the almond wasp, you can be more aware that it does not come near your almond tree. Especially since it is very dangerous for health.