How FuturCrop Works for Your Control

FuturCrop is decision support software that uses  phenological models  to predict the biological development of pests. For  Amyelois transitella, its usefulness lies in synchronizing interventions with the pest’s most vulnerable periods, which is key to effective integrated pest management

Its predictive approach is based on:

1. Degree-Day Calculation : The software uses weather data from your plot’s GPS location to calculate the daily  accumulation of heat units (degree-days) -4 -10 . The development of insects, such as the screwworm, depends directly on temperature, not the calendar -9 .

2. Biological Event Prediction : Using validated scientific models, FuturCrop  predicts up to 7 days in advance  when critical events will occur in the field, such as  adult emergence  (flights), egg laying, or larval hatching.

3. Automatic Alerts : Sends you email alerts when the system calculates that the pest is about to change its developmental stage (for example, from pupa to adult), indicating the optimal time to carry out monitoring or treatments

FuturCrop does not manually distinguish between «adults in unharvested fields» and «adults in new crops.» Instead, it predicts the flight peaks of the total adult population  in real time and prospectively.

However, the scientific context is important: studies indicate that the  capture of adult females between peel cracking and harvest , as well as  infestation in early-opening fruit , are the best indicators for predicting the final damage to the new crop. By predicting peak adult emergence times, FuturCrop allows you to intensify monitoring and trapping precisely during these critical periods.

How to Apply It in Practice

Integrating this tool into your screwworm management allows you to:

• Intervention at the Optimal Time : Apply insecticides or release natural enemies when young larvae are most vulnerable, increasing effectiveness -2 -8 .

• Reduction of Treatments and Costs : By treating only when necessary and accurately, inputs can be reduced by between 40% and 70% -2 -10 .

• Improving the Synchronization of Biological Control : Essential for parasitoids or predators to coincide with the susceptible stages of the pest -4 .

• Harvest Planning : Anticipating peak pest pressure helps in planning the harvest more effectively.