Investigating insecticide concentrations in peach extrafloral nectaries

Pollinating insects, such as bees, play a significant role in world-wide agriculture with over 35% of the global food production dependent on insect pollination. While most peach varieties are self-pollinating, pollinators still visit peach flowers and may improve fruit set. Additionally, many varieties of peaches have nectar producing lobes on their leaves, known as extra-floral nectaries (EFN). These EFN’s are attractive to insects, luring pollinators into the orchards even after crop bloom, which subsequently has the potential to subject the EFN visiting pollinators to commonly used systemic insecticides. As such, the likely increased risk to insects visiting peach orchards may affect the insect community of other pollinator-dependent crops nearby within the region. To improve the sustainability of insect pest management program in Southeastern peach production, we must determine the potential risks to the pollinator community presented by neonicotinoid use. The goal of this project is to evaluate potential risks to those communities from systemic insecticide applications over time. The objective of this project is to determine whether neonicotinoids are present in extra-floral nectar of peaches when applied at standard dose rates over time. Through this objective we plan to take the first step in improving the sustainability of insect management programs and mitigate non-target effects on pollinator communities.