Who We Are

Enhancing Western Orchard Biological Control (EWOBC) is a collaborative SCRI project between Washington State University (lead institution), USDA-ARS, Oregon State University, and the University of California at Berkeley. The team is focused on ways to improve the stability of IPM programs in apple, pear and walnut orchards, by enhancing biological control. Our team includes six entomologists, an insect geneticist, an economist, an extension specialist and a sociologist. For more information click on About Us or click on Our Team to learn about those involved with this project.

About Our Research

Our research objectives are multi-pronged: discover the unintended lethal and sub-lethal effects of commonly used pesticides on orchard natural enemies; characterize the phenology of key natural enemies; evaluate HIPVs as a method for monitoring the presence of natural enemies and compare their efficacy to tradition methods; and develop a method to analyze the gut content of predators to confirm predation of codling moth. For more information about the project objectives click on Objectives or check out our reports and articles list under Features in the menu.

Our Outreach Mission

We are working to identify optimal ways for presenting information that will lead to quicker adoption of new technologies and synthesize existing and new information to provide real-time support for pest control decisions by growers and pest managers aimed at enhancing biological management and a more stable orchard environment. One of our most successful educational events was a BC short course. If you missed it, don't worry. You can still watch many of the presentations and download the course material. Also, smaller targeted events are ongoing, so check our events page. Check out our CA walnut and OR/WA pear grower surveys to see the degree of implementation for biocontrol in IPM.