“This is a no brainer,” he said. “Let’s do it.”

Gibbons said releases of millions of sterile NOW moths would be “another tool in the toolbox to battle such a difficult and aggressive pest.”

He pointed out that the NOW pest is particularly problematic since most pistachios are sold in-shell, and what the pest does to the unseen kernel could end up in a consumer’s mouth literally can leave a bad taste.

“It can bring in mold which tastes awful,” Gibbons said.

Rod Stiefvater, who’s RTS Agribusiness grows pistachios in Fresno, Kern, Madera, and Tulare counties, said there is “nothing like an x-ray to look inside (the shell).”

Also a grower of almonds, Stiefvater said keeping NOW at bay is “hugely expensive, particularly to almonds and pistachio growers.”

Since most almonds and walnuts are not sold in-shell, this means NOW damage is caught well before it winds up in the hands – or mouths – of consumers. Still, the damage cuts yields.

At this point, the pistachio industry is footing the bill for research, about $600,000 raised through a processor assessment of two cents per pound levied by the Administrative Committee for Pistachios.

Some pistachio growers believe almond growers – and possibly walnut growers – would join funding in rearing and releasing moths. Gibbons said releases should cover wide areas since almond, pistachio, and walnut orchards are often contiguous. He added the pest also damages figs and pomegranates.

Millions of sterile NOW moths would be delivered daily on the orchards as soon as moths emerge around March 1 when insect levels are at their lowest.

Release of the sterile moths would continue for several months later than sprays and pheromones in the fall to help reduce over-wintering populations until Oct. 1 or so. Gibbons said the sterile moth program would complement pheromone mating disruption using puffers since the use of the sterile moths is most effective with low populations, and puffers can keep populations low.

Differences between the NOW program and PBW program is that there would be, of course, no “plow down” directive with the NOW releases. NOW has multiple food sources, are better flyers than the PBW, and have different mating habits.

But Gibbons insists, “Let’s try it and see if it works.”

The PBW facility was rearing and distributing 28 million moths per day at cost of less than $1 for a thousand moths.

The NOW program would be aimed more at suppression than eradication, Gibbons said. He added that NOW damage costs pistachio growers around $400 million annually. The hope is that an IPM program using the sterile moths could reduce this cost by 10 percent or more.

Gibbons said the cost of the sterile insect program would cost about $20 million or $15 an acre, “less than the cost of one spray.” Premium and bonus programs offered by processors would help offset those costs.