Pyganic Insecticide - Organic Pest Control

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*** Fast acting botanical insecticide that provides broad-spectrum short-term control of several insect pests by contact action on fruit and vegetable crops.

Pyganic Sumitomo PyGanic® Crop Protection

 

PyGanic Crop Protection offers immediate insect control for organic production.  PyGanic® Crop Protection is an organically-compliant, broad-spectrum contact insecticide. 

  • Stop damage fast - PyGanic delivers quick knockdown and control of crop-damaging insects.
  • Flexible - No pre-harvest interval
  • Organically compliant - PyGanic is OMRI® listed and meets the USDA's NOP requirements for an input.  NASAA & ACO approved.
  • Broad Spectrum - May be used on all growing crops to control a broad spectrum of insects.


The power of PyGanic® is derived from Natural Pyrethrum, an insecticide sourced from chrysanthemum daisies grown in Tasmania and worldwide. PyGanic® offers residue-free protection, allowing application up to harvest day.

PyGanic® is renowned for breaking insecticide resistance due to the natural variation of pyrethrins, preventing insects from building resistance. It's the only IFOAM, NOP, BioGro, and BFA registered organic pyrethrum insecticide, devoid of Piperenoyl butoxide (PBO) and other prohibited solvents.
 

Organic Standards Compliance

PyGanic® is compliant with the USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) requirements for organic input.  PyGanic is OMRI listed® and is an approved material under Washington State Department of Agriculture organic food program. 

NASAA & ACO APPROVED PRODUCT as an allowed input in organic production.

Tips for Best Performance

1) Buffer the pH of the PyGanic® spray solution to 5.5 - 7.0.

2) PyGanic is a contact insecticide - good coverage is key.

3) PyGanic may be applied in conjunction with a spreader or wetting agent.

4) Consider application in early morning, late evening or during the night.

5) For most situations start at the mid application rate for PyGanic.

6) Tank mix PyGanic with other products if you wish.

7) Carefully monitor insect populations and apply when insects are early in their life stage.

8) Apply PyGanic when target insects are active.

9) Remove beneficial insects or apply when beneficials are not present.

Dilution rate: 1ml/L  No more than 3mL/L.

For ultra fine misting 10mL/L will cover around 50/60ha.

Active ingredient:  Pyrethrins 13g/L.


Delivery charges apply.

CARTON 4 x 30 x 30 x 40 - 16kgs unit


 
File Title File Description Type Section
TOCpyganic_brochure_2022_f_1.pdf Pyganic Brochure Brochures Document
TOCpyganic_label_1121_1.pdf Pyganic Label Brochures Document
TOCpyganic_technote_0_1.pdf Pyganic Technote Brochures Document
TOCpyganic_organic_insecticide_sds_202106_1.pdf Pyganic SDS Brochures Document
TOC_Pyganic_NASAA_and_ACO_certifications.pdf Pyganic Organic Certification NASAA & ACO Brochures Document
TOCPyganicper92846_1.pdf Pyganic Permit APVMA Brochures Document

Black Olive Scale Explained | Olive Pests & Diseases

INFORMATION SHEET - PEST & DISEASES

Black Olive Scale Explained

Occasionally a sap-sucking insect known as Brown or Black Olive Scale will be seen on olive trees. It is rarely a problem if the trees are in good health. We usually only spray our mature trees for scale every two to three years and only then if they need it. However, certain areas of Australia are more prone to the scale.

If your olive tree has black spots on branches or an infestation of black scale, it's crucial to act quickly. Scale on olive trees, including black olive scale, appears as dark bumps that weaken growth. For black scale treatment, use a proven treatment, introduce beneficial insects, and prune for better air circulation. If you're wondering how to get rid of black scale on an olive tree, early detection and prompt action are key to protecting your grove.

About

The adult females are very easy to recognise on the olive tree stems. They are dome shaped, dark brown to black in colour, and about the size of a match head.

The tiny eggs laid under the female, look like piles of very fine sand. Mainly during the summer, these eggs hatch into tiny, six-legged, cream coloured ‘crawlers’. The crawlers move up the stems and usually settle along the veins of young leaves. At this stage they don’t have the impervious shell of the adult and can usually be killed with one or two applications of white oil about two weeks apart. White oil should be used only as directed on the label by the manufacturers (and by your agricultural department) and never during the hot part of the day. It puts an oil film over the young ‘crawler’ and suffocates it. If applied in the hot part of the day it also stops the leaves from breathing properly and can be detrimental to the tree. The White oil application will also tend to rid the tree of ‘sooty mould’ as discussed soon.

If the crawlers are allowed to live, they will moult after about one month and then migrate to the young stems and twigs of the tree. Here they will mature and lay more eggs and their protective brown shells will be impervious to white oil. Squash the scale between your fingers to see if it is alive. If it is alive, then your fingers will be wet from the juices squeezed out. If it is dead then your fingers will be dry and dusty.

Bad infestations of live mature scale may need spraying with an insecticide such as Supracide. (Important: See note regarding “Treatment”) In Greece, Supracide is the main spray used for most olive problems. Once again, check with your local agricultural chemical supplier and the product label, for directions.

Probably the damage done by the scale itself to the tough olive tree is negligible compared with what happens next.

As the scale feeds, the ‘manure’ they excrete is a sweet, sticky, ‘honeydew’. This excreted sticky liquid can finally cover the leaves of the entire tree. A fungus known as sooty mould feeds on this food and multiplies until the entire tree may be covered with the black sooty mould. This is where the real problem lies.

The leaves are coated with the black deposit, so the sun’s light can’t penetrate the leaves properly. Therefore photosynthesis can’t take place efficiently. Therefore, ‘root producing’ food is not manufactured in the leaf. Therefore roots don’t develop properly. Therefore the poor root system can’t collect enough food and water from the soil to send up to produce more leaves, which in turn will produce more root. Once the vicious cycle begins, a stunted and unhealthy tree with poor crops is the result.

To make the problem worse, sweet ‘honeydew’ on the leaves also attracts large numbers of ants. It appears that as the ants constantly move over the scale, they frighten away the small wasp parasites which in normal cases would keep the scale under control.

Black Olive Scale Gallery

Adult scale on the underside of olive leaves

 Overturned scale with orange crawlers showing.

An olive branch covered in sooty mould.

Closeup of sooty mould on olive leaf.

The good news is that healthy olive trees don’t get the scale, sooty mould, and ant infestation to any great extent. More good news is that heavily infested trees are easily fixed.

Normally, one thorough spraying of the entire tree and soil below with a systemic insecticide will be adequate. Nevertheless, to be sure, a second spray about two weeks later may be worthwhile.

Now, if there is no more live scale, there is no more eating, therefore no more ‘honeydew’ excreta, therefore no more sooty mould and ants. Over a period of time the dead sooty mould deposit will peel off the leaves from exposure to the rain, wind and sun. The green leaf surface will be exposed and growth will continue as normal. Treat the tree to an occasional feeding of Seagold fertilizer/mulch and foliar application and some water and watch its health come back.


Scientific Name:  Saissetia oleae

DESCRIPTION OF THE PEST

Black scale adult females are about 0.20 inch (about the size of a match head) in diameter. They are dark brown or black with a prominent H-shaped ridge on the back. Young scales are yellow to orange crawlers and are found on leaves and twigs of the tree. Often, a hand lens is needed to detect the crawlers. Black scale usually has one generation per year in interior valley olive growing districts. In cooler, coastal regions multiple generations occur. Black scale prefers dense unpruned portions of trees. Open, airy trees rarely support populations of black scale.


DAMAGE

Young black scale excretes a sticky, shiny honeydew on leaves of infested trees. At first, affected trees and leaves glisten and then become sooty and black in appearance as sooty mould fungus grows on the honeydew. Infestations reduce vigour and productivity of the tree. Continued feeding causes defoliation that reduces the bloom in the following year. Olive pickers are reluctant to pick olive fruits covered with honeydew and sooty mould.


CULTURAL CONTROL

Pruning to provide open, airy trees discourages black scale infestation and is preferred to chemical treatment.


BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

A number of parasites attack the black scale, the most common are Metaphycus helvolus, Metaphycus bartletti, and Scutellista cyanea. These parasites, combined with proper pruning, provide sufficient control in northern and coastal orchards. In other regions, biological control is often ineffective because the black scale’s development pattern hampers parasite establishment.


ORGANICALLY ACCEPTABLE METHODS

Cultural and biological control and oil sprays. Organic pyrethrum sprays like Pyganic ( Pybo is no longer organically certified).


WHEN TO TREAT

If infestations are resulting in honeydew, treat the crawlers. In interior valleys, delay treatment until hatching is complete and crawlers have left protection of the old female body. Once crawlers have completely emerged, a treatment can effectively be made in summer, fall or winter provided the scales have not developed into the rubber stage (later second instar, which are dark, mottled grey, and leathery, with a clear H-shaped ridge on the back).


TREATMENT

Due to the chemical nature of the treatments, Please check with your agricultural chemical supplier as to the suitability, application and safety precautions of your chosen scale treatment for olives. Some growers have used Summer or Petroleum Oil and Supracide.  Californian olive growers use Oil Emulsions, Diazinon 50WP, Methidathion and Carbaryl. The use of chemicals reduces the microbial population in your soil and can inhibit the uptake of certain nutrients to your trees.  Harmful residues of chemicals can also build up in your soil structure.

A new product Admiral has become available which acts as an insect growth regulator rather than a kill-on-contact pesticide, it has been quite effective and like any treatment of scale; timing is essential.  Ants can be controlled with an Ant Bait suitable for Horticultural use.  We suggest Distance Plus Ant Bait.


References

“Olives – Pest Management Guidelines” (UCPMG Publication 8, 1994). These guidelines cover the major olive problems found in Australia and California and are available for free from their website http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/selectnewpest.olives.html . (The information comes from California so all references to places, seasons, months and treatments are Californian). If you have any questions, please contact The Olive Centre, PH: 07 4696 9845, Email: sales@theolivecentre.com.au

Protecting Your Olive Groves: Understanding Olive Lace Bug (Froggattia olivinia)

PEST & DISEASES - OLIVE

Understanding Olive Lace Bug (Froggattia Olivinia)

The Olive Lace Bug (Froggattia olivinia) has become an increasingly significant concern for olive producers. These sap-seeking insects primarily feed on the undersides of olive leaves, causing distinct yellow mottling on the leaf surface. If left unmanaged, affected leaves typically turn brown, leading to premature leaf drop. Severe infestations can result in substantial loss of tree vitality, defoliation, and notably reduced fruit yields. 

Native to New South Wales and Southern Queensland, the Olive Lace Bug has been recorded across other Australian states as well. New infestations can occur frequently throughout the growing season, with the pest capable of producing three to four generations annually. 

Proactively identifying and managing these pests is crucial to safeguarding your groves and maintaining consistent productivity. Our detailed article provides valuable insights and practical strategies for effectively controlling and preventing Olive Lace Bug infestations.

#OliveLaceBug #OliveGroves #PestManagement #OliveIndustry #Agribusiness #OliveProduction #CropProtection #IntegratedPestManagement #OliveGrowers #SustainableFarming #AustralianOlives #AgricultureNews #OliveFarming #Horticulture #FarmManagement

Comprehensive Guide to Managing Olive Lace Bug (Froggattia Olivina) | Olive Pests & Diseas

PEST & DISEASES - OLIVE GROWING

Comprehensive Guide to Managing Olive Lace Bug (Froggattia Olivina)

The Olive Lace Bug (Froggattia olivina) is an Australian native sap-sucking insect posing significant threats to olive groves. It specifically targets olive trees (Olea europaea), potentially reducing yields and causing tree death if left unmanaged. Olive lace bug infestation is considered a serious threat to the olive industry in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and across Australia.


STAGES OF OLIVE LACE BUG

Adults: Approximately 2-3 mm long, adults are flat, mottled dark brown and cream, featuring large, black-tipped antennae, lace-like transparent wings marked with dark patterns, and red eyes. 

Juveniles (Nymphs): Undergo five moults (instars). Early instars are wingless and vary from light cream or greenish-yellow to pinkish-orange. Later instars are green to greyish-black and very spiky, with wing buds developing.

Lifecycle

Female Olive Lace Bugs insert eggs into the tissue on the undersides of leaves, usually along the midribs. Eggs hatch into nymphs, which pass through five moults before reaching adulthood. Olive Lace Bug overwinters as eggs, with hatching typically occurring in early spring (September to October). Adults may also overwinter in protected locations on trees. Depending on climate conditions, there may be one to four generations per year, with a lifecycle ranging from 12-23 days in warm weather to up to 7 weeks in cooler conditions.

Distribution and Spread

Originally native to New South Wales and southern Queensland, olive lace bugs have spread throughout Australia, excluding the Northern Territory. The movement of olive plants and industry activities have facilitated this spread. Juvenile bugs, relatively immobile, cluster on leaf undersides and are easily spread through planting materials, workers, and tools. Adults disperse via short flights or wind

Identification and Monitoring

  • Regularly inspect leaf undersides from early spring. 
  • Early infestations appear as rusty-yellow spots about half the size of a pin-head on the upper surface of leaves, contrasting clearly with the dark green leaf surface. 
  • Severe infestations result in leaf browning, premature drop, and twig dieback.

Damage and Symptoms

Heavy infestations significantly affect tree vigor, delaying flowering and fruiting, reducing yields for up to two seasons, and potentially causing young tree death. Mature trees can also be severely affected, with death observed in extreme cases.

Host Plants

Known hosts include native mock olive (Notelaea longifolia) and cultivated olives (Olea europaea).

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Strategies

  • Regular Monitoring: Check frequently to detect early infestations. 
  • Cultural Practices: Keep trees healthy through adequate fertilisation, irrigation, systematic pruning, and canopy management. Avoid stress caused by poor soil preparation, proximity to large eucalypts, or nutrient deficiencies.
  • Biological Control: Support beneficial predators such as lacewing larvae, ladybird beetles, and predatory mites. Note: Biological controls require a continual supply of the pest to be effective, which can be difficult to achieve in the long term.
  • Spray Controls: Apply proven products known to be effective in the control of OLB.  See more:  Olive Lace Bug Products

Effective Spray Regime

  • Spray soon after initial detection. Severe infestations may require a second treatment 10-14 days later. 
  • Apply thorough coverage on leaf undersides. 
  • Prune regularly to open the canopy, improving spray effectiveness and reducing pest habitat.

Long-term Sustainability

  • Maintain optimal tree health with regular nutrient checks and soil testing
  • Remove dead or unwanted branches. 
  • Educate staff on proper pest identification and management techniques.

By proactively managing olive lace bug, you safeguard the health and productivity of your olive groves, ensuring sustained profitability.