Discovery and development of natural pesticides targeting insect and fungal pests of tree nuts

Tree nuts—such as almonds, pistachios, and walnuts—are among California’s most valuable agricultural commodities. However, their production is severely impacted by key insect pests, including the navel orangeworm (Amyelois transitella), carob moth (Ectomyelois ceratoniae), and Carpophilus truncatus beetles. These pests cause significant annual losses, despite aggressive integrated pest management strategies that include insecticide applications. Alarmingly, emerging reports of insecticide resistance in these species underscore the urgent need for novel and sustainable pest control solutions.
The damage caused by larval feeding allows mycotoxin-producing fungi, predominantly Aspergillus flavus, to enter nuts, leading to contamination by mycotoxins, with aflatoxin being the most common. Beyond economic implications, navel orangeworm, carob moths, and C. truncatus pose serious food safety risks, as mycotoxins are known carcinogens with acute toxicity.
In response, we have discovered novel, safe, and effective insecticides against navel orangeworm, carob moths, and C. truncatus. A blend of five compounds has demonstrated exceptional, synergistic, and broad-spectrum insecticidal efficacy against the three insect pests. Additionally, three of the chemicals in our blend were found to synergize and inhibit the growth of multiple mycotoxin-producing fungi associated with insect pests, with two of the natural products specifically inhibiting the fungi's ability to produce aflatoxins. This innovative natural blend offers comprehensive protection against contamination of crops from insects, fungi, and mycotoxins.