Anti-thrips netting 10x16, 10x20 or 13x31: which to choose for each pest
What 10x16, 10x20 and 13x31 mean, their mesh equivalent and which insect netting to choose against thrips, aphids, whitefly or Drosophila suzukii.
Netting against Drosophila suzukii in cherries and berries: the 10x8
How to stop Drosophila suzukii in cherries, blueberries and raspberries with exclusion netting: which net (10x8), how it is installed and what sources say.
The physical way to stop Drosophila suzukii in cherries and berries is exclusion netting with a hole small enough to keep the fly out, and the reference is the 10x8 net. Grupo Criado y López designed it with the Agrotextiles Laboratory of the University of Almería and states 100% effectiveness against this pest with the maximum possible ventilation. It is installed over the plant, the row or the whole plot.
Why is it so damaging?
Drosophila suzukii, also known as spotted wing drosophila, attacks fruit as it ripens: the larvae develop inside the fruit and break it down. In Chile, the Agricultural and Livestock Service has detected immature stages in cherry, raspberry and blueberry since 2018 (SAG, fact sheet 7).
Does netting work?
Yes. A scientific review gathers a dozen studies in which fine-mesh netting excludes D. suzukii in blueberry, blackberry, raspberry and grape (University of Kentucky). SAG describes covers with a specific mesh size that prevent drosophila from entering, fitted per plant or over whole rows or blocks (SAG, fact sheet 6). Phytoma notes that insect netting gives a good level of protection, although it can affect other aspects of the crop (Phytoma).
Which net to use?
| Net | What for | Ventilation |
|---|---|---|
| CYLNET 10x8 | Designed for D. suzukii: 100% effective according to the manufacturer; also recommended against Tuta absoluta | The maximum possible for that protection |
| CYLNET 10x16 or 10x20 | Thrips, aphids and whitefly | Lower: more threads per centimetre |
| CYLNET 13x31 | Maximum exclusion of small insects | The lowest in the range |
The 10x8 comes in crystal and in widths from 1 to 5 m, made to measure. Novafrut also supplies NovaNet® insect netting in 10x8 density. To choose between densities by pest, see anti-thrips netting 10x16, 10x20 or 13x31.
How is it installed on cherries?
As an enclosure on a structure of posts and cables, just like anti-hail netting, or as a cover for shade-house greenhouses and their vents in berries. If the orchard already has an anti-hail structure or a rain cover, we study how to use it to close it off against the fly as well.
Who supplies it
The CYLNET 10x8 is made by Grupo Criado y López, which Novafrut is part of. We advise you and, in Spain, France and Portugal, we also install it. Ask us for a quote with the crop, the area and the structure you have.
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Choosing the wrong netting or posts can cost you thousands of euros
The colour of the netting changes the light your crop receives, and the post determines how long the structure lasts and what it costs. In this video we explain how to get it right before you invest.
- Which netting colour suits your crop.
- Wood, concrete or metal: when each type of post pays off.
- How to adapt the installation to your farm so you don't overpay.