Managing Key Insects in California Almond Orchards/Principles of IPM [2026]

OVERVIEW

Almonds are California's number one agricultural export and the number one U.S. horticultural export. The first record of an almond orchard in California dates back to 1843. They were grown in the foothills of the Sacramento Valley. By the mid-1920s, one of these seedlings, the Nonpareil variety, had become established as the industry standard in the marketplace and in the orchard. Once proven, the almond industry grew steadily, and by the mid-1950s there were approximately 100,000 acres of orchard trees under cultivation. A period of rapid growth followed in the 1960s, '70s and early '80s and, now, there are approximately 750,000 bearing acres of almonds in the state. Non-bearing acreage totals 825,000 acres. Recent annual crops are estimated at almost two billion pounds. This course is sponsored by Western Farm Press and its purpose is to provide a review of some insects and mites that impact California almonds as well as some practical information on ways to mitigate orchard damage.

Course Features

Lectures 10
Questions 20
Duration 1.5 h (approx)

COURSE OUTLINE
- Introduction
  
  4 min.
- Navel Orangeworm (Amyelois transitella)
  
  7 min.
- Peach Twig Borer (Anarsia lineatella)
  
  5 min.
- Fruittree Leafroller (Archips argyrospila)
  
  2 min.
- San Jose Scale (Quadraspidiotus perniciosus)
  
  5 min.
- Spider Mites
  
  7 min.
- Ants & Tent Caterpillars
  
  3 min.
- Tenlined June Beetle (Polyphylla decemlineata) & the Oriental Fruit Moth (Grapholita molesta)
  
  5 min.
- Minor Pests
  
  5 min.
- Integrated Pest Management
  
  32 min.

CREDIT INFORMATION

This course is accredited by:

California Department of Pesticide Regulation (1 hour Other)
Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) Accredited in U.S. and Canada (2 hours IPM)
Tennessee Department of Agriculture (1 Hour in C01, C03, C10, C12)

It is accredited for licensing categories: PCAs, Qualified Applicators, Private Applicators, Aerial Applicators, and County Permit Holders.

CONTRIBUTORS

Our thanks to Walt Bentley, University of California IPM Advisor at theUniversity of California Kearney Field Station, Parlier, California for his expert review of this course.

Key printed and online resources included the Almond Production Manual published by the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Publication 3364); Integrated Pest Management — Stone Fruits (UCANR Publication 3389); Pests of the Garden and Small Farm (UCANR Publication 3332); the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program website (www.ipm.ucdavis.edu), and the Almond Board of California (www.almondboard.com).