Glue barriers reduce earwig damage on apricots in north-western Italy

The European earwig, Forficula auricularia L. (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), is a well-known species that is cosmopolitan and present throughout Europe. Due to its omnivorous feeding behaviour, this species can act as a generalist predator, preying on several top fruit pests, but also as a pest causing shallow gouges or holes in stone and soft fruits such as apricots, strawberries, raspberries or blackberries. In Piedmont (NW Italy), significant fruit damage has been observed lately in apricot orchards where earwigs fed on ripening fruits and made a considerable part of the produce unmarketable. In this study, we sampled earwig populations in three apricot orchards in Piedmont and tested the effectiveness of glue barriers applied to the tree trunks in reducing both earwig density in the canopy and fruit damage. The arboreal glues Rampastop® and Vebicolla® were tested both in the field and laboratory trials. Glue barriers demonstrated to be effective control measures, significantly reducing earwig abundance in the canopy and fruit damage. Rampastop® gave better results on old trees with a very rough and cracked bark, since in that case Vebicolla® could not perfectly bond with the trunk.     

Phenology of the common earwig Forficula auricularia L. (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) in an apple orchard

Abstract

Observational data taken over 13 years, on the phenology and the abundance of the first brood of the common earwig, Forficula auricularia L., in a Dutch apple orchard were analysed. The results are used to indicate a fixed sampling moment for this predator. The fourth instar nymphs emerged between 12 June and 10 July, and the adult stage was reached between 8 and 30 July. The observed phenology, and the number of earwigs in shelter traps, correlated well with the temperature sum in day-degrees above a thermal threshold of 6 C, accumulated from 1 January. Maximum numbers of earwigs could be trapped in the trees when the nymphs of the first brood entered the fourth instar, generally between 600 and 750 day-degrees.     

Phenology and impact of natural enemies associated with the hop looper (Hypena humuli) in Washington State,USA

The hop looper, Hypena humuli Harris (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is becoming an increasingly important pest of hops (Humulus lupulus L.) (Rosales: Cannabaceae) in western USA. Currently, control of this pest usually involves broad-spectrum pesticides that kill natural enemies and disrupt biological control of other hop pests. In order to develop better management strategies for H. humuli, field and laboratory studies were conducted over a four-year period to identify the pest's natural enemies and to investigate their phenologies and to assess their impact. Nine parasitoid species and assorted species of invertebrate predator were found to attack different life-stages of H. humuli. Levels of parasitism were consistently low throughout the study period and none of the parasitoids found was a specialist natural enemy of the pests. Exclusion cage studies showed, however, that the complex of natural enemies as a whole can significantly reduce larval densities of the pest, and laboratory studies confirmed successful predation of H. humuli larvae by several generalist predators including the European earwig (Forficula auricularia L.), the damsel bug Nabis alternatus Parshley and two species of the geocorid bug genus Geocoris.     

Effect of irrigation on the dynamics of Phytophthora citrophthora populations in soil of citrus orchards1

Effects of irrigation on the dynamics of soil populations of Phytophthora citrophthora have been studied in three citrus orchards in East Sicily (Italy). Significant increases of inoculum levels were detected 24 h after irrigation. In one orchard throughout summer, population of P. citrophthora beneath the tree canopy was more than 15 propagules g-¹ soil, a value which is considered a threshold level for root rot infections.     

Overwintering biology of the carob moth Apomyelois ceratoniae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The pomegranate fruit moth, Apomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller), is the most important pest of pomegranate orchards in Iran, where infestations lead to 20%–80% fruit loss. A. ceratoniae overwinters as larvae in several instars. The success in overwintering determines the fruit loss in the following season, thus overwintering physiology of A. ceratoniae could provide insights into population prediction. To this end, overwintering strategy and some seasonal physiological and biochemical changes were investigated in the field-collected larvae of A. ceratoniae. The lowest supercooling point was recorded in November (?14.6 ± 0.9 °C) and the highest in both October and March (?10.2 ± 0.9 °C). The median lethal temperature (LT₅₀) of larvae was higher than supercooling point, suggesting that A. ceratoniae is chill-susceptible. Overwintering larvae had slightly higher concentrations of glycerol and sorbitol compared to summer larvae. There were no significant seasonal changes in body water content or hemolymph osmolality. Current winter temperatures in Iranian orchards are higher than the cold tolerance thresholds of A. ceratoniae, suggesting that overwintering mortality is not a key factor in determining A. ceratoniae populations.     

A survey of Lolium rigidum populations in citrus orchards: Factors explaining infestation levels

The presence of herbicide‐resistant Lolium rigidum in Mediterranean (Spanish) citrus orchards was reported in 2005 and it poses a serious threat to crop management. The main objective of this research was to investigate which components could be responsible for the persistence of annual ryegrass populations in Mediterranean mandarin and orange orchards. This is the first study regarding L. rigidum populations in Mediterranean citrus orchards. Surveys were conducted in 55 commercial citrus orchards in eastern Spain in 2013 by interviewing technicians who were working in cooperatives about crop management. The level of infestation by L. rigidum and the presence of harvester ants (Messor barbarus) then were estimated in the same orchards. The variables were subjected to a two‐dimensional analysis and both univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were fitted for each of the three L. rigidum density levels that had been established. The multivariate models showed the significant factors that were associated with various L. rigidum densities: (i) at a low density, the herbicides that were applied, the number of applications in 2013 and the type of irrigation (flood or drip); (ii) at a medium density, the presence of harvester ants; and (iii) at a high density, the herbicides that were applied in 2013. The results indicated that drip irrigation and one application of glyphosate mixed with other herbicides (or herbicides other than glyphosate) were associated with a lower L. rigidum density. The alternative management options that are presented here should help farmers to reduce weed problems in Mediterranean citrus orchards. Future research is required to better understand the presence of herbicide‐resistant populations, as well as the possible beneficial presence of granivorous ant species.     

Monitoring for resistant populations of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Xanthomonas citri</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">citri</Emphasis> and epiphytic bacteria on citrus trees treated with copper or streptomycin using a new semi-selective medium

Streptomycin has been tested as an alternative to copper bactericides, which are routinely used for the control of citrus canker (Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri, Xcc) in citrus producing areas where the disease is endemic. A major concern is that excessive use of copper as a bactericide may lead to development of copper-resistant strains of Xcc. In this study, we developed a semi-selective medium to recover copper or streptomycin-resistant strains of Xcc from citrus leaves. The newly developed semi-selective medium was used to monitor the effect of a 21-day-interval copper or streptomycin spray program on Xcc for three consecutive seasons and on citrus epiphytic bacterial populations for two seasons in a commercial grapefruit grove. Although, no copper- or streptomycin-resistant strains of Xcc were isolated after three seasons, we observed a significant increase over time in the frequency of citrus epiphytic bacteria resistant to these chemicals. Overall, the proportion of epiphytic bacteria resistant to streptomycin on treated and untreated leaves was proportionally lower than the copper-resistant bacterial population. When application of each bactericide was suspended for the season, the proportion of bactericide-resistant bacteria in the epiphytic population decreased to that of the non-treated bacterial population. Availability of an alternative bactericide, such as streptomycin, to integrate into a copper-based program would reduce the amount of each bactericide sprayed in citrus orchards and possibly lower the selection pressure for bacterial resistance to these chemicals.     

Association ofGeotrichum citri-aurantii with citrus groves in Israel

Soil samples from 99 sites in four geographic regions of Israel were examined for the presence ofGeotrichum citri-aurantii, the sour-rot pathogen of citrus fruit. The soil at each site was sampled from three locations: the center of, the margin of, and 100 m distant from a citrus grove.Geotrichum spp. were present in all geographic regions, but could be detected in only 183 of 297 locations. Sixty to 80% of the soil samples in the center and margin of the groves containedG. citri-aurantii, whereas only less than 21% of the soil samples outside the citrus grove contained this pathogen. Of the total soil samples, only 10% contained avirulent strains (i.e., G. candidum). Outside the citrus grove, 100 m from the margin,Geotrichum spp. could not be detected at most locations (75–100%). Results indicated a possible association between the sour-rot pathogen and the grove environment in Israel.     

Evolution and status of Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius) as a pest control agent in citrus in the Mekong Delta,Vietnam

Citrus farmers in the Mekong Delta have a long tradition of managing the weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius). From 1994 to 1998, insecticide use increased significantly (P< 0.01) from 66% to 84% in orchards where O. smaragdina occurred. In 1998, ca 75% of the sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and 25% of the Tieu mandarin (C. reticulata) orchards had large O. smaragdina populations, due to lower pesticide pressure in the first crop. In orchards with O. smaragdina, farmers sprayed less frequently and used fewer highly hazardous insecticides. Major insecticides used in sweet orange were monocrotophos and alpha-cypermethrin, and those used in Tieu mandarin were methidathion, imidacloprid and fenpropathrin. Expenditure on pesticides was reduced by half when O. smaragdina was abundant, without affecting either the yield or the farmers' income. Therefore, O. smaragdina husbandry is a good example of a traditional practice which should be further promoted as an important component of sustainable citrus production. The experience of those farmers who use no or few pesticides should be drawn upon in developing farmer training programmes or mass media tools to promote IPM in citrus. Farmers practicing ant husbandry were significantly older than those not doing so.     

Effect of pest management systems on foliage- and grass-dwelling spider communities in an apple orchard in Hungary

Spider communities (Araneae) inhabiting the canopy, the herbaceous layer and the borders, as well as the populations overwintering on the tree trunks of different aged IPM and conventional apple orchards were investigated in Hungary. Abundance and species richness of entire spider communities in IPM plots were significantly higher than in conventional plots, probably owing to the lower toxicity of pesticides used and higher prey densities. In the case of abundance, similar tendencies were observed in web-building and hunting spider guilds. Age of plantations can significantly influence spider density in the canopy, acting through the prey density. In young plantations, where size of the canopy was smaller and density of the pear lace bug (Stephanitis pyri L.) higher, significantly higher numbers of hunting spider communities were present than in old plantations which had been similarly treated. This relationship was not observed for web-building spiders. Diversity of canopy-inhabiting spider communities was higher in old plots, regardless of the treatments. The effect of the border of the orchard on spider communities was investigated and it was found that when selective insecticides were used, migration of spiders into orchards was increased significantly. When broad-spectrum insecticides were applied, spider densities in the canopy did not differ between outer and inner rows of the orchards. The effect of the treatments and orchard age, both on abundance and species richness of overwintering spider communities on the trunk, showed the same result as for canopy spiders, namely significantly larger spider communities were found in IPM plots and in the young plantation than in conventionally-treated plots and in the old plantation. Broad-spectrum insecticides reduced abundance and species richness of spider communities in the herbaceous layer of the conventionally-treated plot. At the same time, the spider communities of the herbaceous layer of the IPM plot did not differ significantly from adjacent herbaceous plants. A significant overlap exists between spider communities of the canopy and herbaceous layer. Despite chemical treatments, migration from the herbaceous layer into the canopy occurs. The effects of chemical treatments on the dominant species are discussed. There were no significant differences between the differently treated plots in abundance of one of the dominant species Oxyopes heterophthalmus Latreille. However, the other dominant species, Cheiracanthium mildei L. Koch, was more abundant in the IPM plots.     

三种果园中实蝇粘虫板对橘小实蝇及天敌的诱杀作用

为减少实蝇粘虫板对天敌的诱杀作用,完善实蝇粘虫板在果园的使用方法,于2018年和2019年分别在湖南省农业科学院园艺研究所橘园、桃园、梨园悬挂实蝇粘虫板,调查其诱杀的橘小实蝇、其他害虫和天敌数量。结果表明,橘园、梨园和桃园共诱杀到15个种、4个科和9个类群,包括靶标害虫橘小实蝇、其他害虫和天敌。3种果园中粘虫板诱杀的昆虫种、科或类群数量有差异,其中梨园中诱杀的昆虫总数最多,为13 653头,其次是桃园,橘园中诱杀的昆虫总数最少。在橘园、梨园和桃园中,橘小实蝇的相对丰富度分别为5.90%、23.45%和21.73%,最早出现时间均为6月;在橘园中橘小实蝇诱杀量高峰期在8月下旬至10月上旬,下半年天敌诱杀量高峰期略滞后于橘小实蝇的诱杀量高峰期,在梨园和桃园中橘小实蝇诱杀量高峰期主要集中在7月中下旬至10月中旬,橘小实蝇诱杀量高峰期与天敌诱杀量高峰期无明显相关性;3种果园中粘虫板诱杀的主要天敌有瓢虫、食蚜蝇、草蛉、寄生蜂,桃园和梨园中诱杀的草蛉较多,橘园中诱杀的瓢虫和寄生蜂较多。应用实蝇粘虫板防控橘小实蝇时,梨园和桃园应从6月上旬开始悬挂,橘园应从8月上旬开始悬挂,先少量悬挂,根据诱杀橘小实蝇数量,再逐渐增加粘虫板。     

The effect of the weaver ant,Oecophylla smaragdina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), on the mango seed weevil,Sternochetus mangiferae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in mango orchards in the Northern Territory of Australia

Abstract

The mango seed weevil, Sternochetus mangiferae (Fabricius), is one of the major mango insect pests in northern Australia. A reasonable level of control can be obtained with insecticide sprays together with orchard sanitation, but the only option available for organic growers is the latter. Weaver ants, Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius), are effective in controlling the main insect pests in citrus, cashew and mango orchards. To determine whether weaver ants, which are usually abundant in non-sprayed mango orchards, have the potential to control the mango seed weevil, field experiments together with regular monitoring programmes at six orchards in the Northern Territory of Australia were conducted from 2001 to 2003. Data from two conventional orchards showed that the treatment with weaver ants plus soft chemicals produced lower levels of downgraded fruits (<0.5%) compared to the treatment with chemical insecticides (1.4 – 2.1%). In three organic or insecticide-free orchards, fruits were much less damaged on trees with weaver ants (<1%) than on trees without the ants (2.5 – 15.7%). In the sixth orchard, that had much higher mango seed weevil populations than the others, levels of downgraded fruits were lower on trees with abundant weaver ants than on trees with fewer weaver ants. We conclude that weaver ants are efficient biocontrol agents of the mango seed weevil, and that for successful control of the pest it is important both to maintain the ants at high levels and to destroy excess fruits.     

利用腹管食螨瓢虫控制柑桔全爪螨的研究

本文报道分布于中国东南部的腹管食螨瓢虫Stethorus siphonulus Kapur大面积控制柑桔全爪螨Panonychus citri(McGregor)首获成功;试验示范面积2000多亩,证明保护食螨瓢虫,一般株有瓢虫20—40只者,可无需用药。在春季移殖散放食螨瓢虫,除能控制春季桔全爪螨外,尚可继续控制桔全爪螨的秋季种群,全年无需喷药防治。倘若单独在秋梢期散放食螨瓢虫,秋梢害螨亦可得到显著的控制。移殖散放食螨瓢虫的指标为叶平均有桔全爪螨(包含卵在内各虫态)10只以上,方能建立起瓢虫群落。一般30—40亩果园,只需集中在10株桔树上散放食螨瓢虫200只左右(每株20只),短期内即可繁殖扩散至全园。在大面积桔园,适时进行瓢虫转株再移殖,可以迅速扩大控制范围。     

柑橘大实蝇成虫最佳诱捕时间和诱捕地点

为有效诱捕柑橘大实蝇Bactrocera minax成虫,首先调查5个不同橘园中柑橘大实蝇成虫发生量和落果数量,计算落果率,对诱捕时间和诱捕成虫百分比进行Logistic方程拟合分析,然后调查全田、橘园、交界带、杂树林、橘园中心5个生境下柑橘大实蝇觅食高峰期成虫发生量,并对各生境下柑橘大实蝇成虫发生量和各橘园中落果率进行相关性分析及回归分析。结果表明,觅食高峰期柑橘大实蝇的最佳诱捕时间为5月31日—6月27日。除杂树林外,觅食高峰期全田、橘园、交界带和橘园中心柑橘大实蝇成虫发生量和落果率之间均呈显著正相关。通过比较5个生境拟合回归方程的判定系数和均方根误差确定在交界带生境中柑橘大实蝇成虫发生量与落果率的二次三项式模型拟合效果最好,因此,交界带为柑橘大实蝇成虫的最佳诱捕地点。     

Stammapplikationen im Obstbau mit nanostrukturierten Silikaten gegen die Blutlaus Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausm.) und den Gemeinen Ohrwurm Forficula auricularia L.

The present work deals with a new strategy to control Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausm.) in apple and Forficula auricularia?(L.) in apricots. With common insecticides, both pests are difficult to control. Although F.?auricularia is regarded as a beneficial insect, in ecological agriculture it has the potential to cause severe economical damage in apricots. In apple and apricot orchards we tested treatments on the bark with diatomaceous earth (DE) products to prevent insects from reaching the tree crown. DE has been applied as liquid (“Fossil Shield^®” translucend) by a backpack sprayer or electrostatically as powder (“Fossil Shield^®” 90.0?s). In some trials we covered the treated area with a plastic funnel (fruitcap) in order to protect the silica-product from wind and rain. Experiments were evaluated weekly and number of insects in the tree crown was counted. During the first two months after treatment E.?lanigerum population in the crown was reduced by 98.2%. However, over the whole period of six month the barriers turned out to be ineffective (p?=?0.617). Winged adults have been capable to pass the barriere. In contrast to this fruitcap barriers were able to keep F. auricularia away from the crown (p?=?0.000). They have been as effective as standard treatment using glue. In such treatments apricot yield increased 6-fold for the cultivar “Goldrich” and 5.5-fold for the cultivar “Hargrand”.     

A new method for inoculation of fruit with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Guignardia citricarpa</Emphasis>, the causal agent of citrus black spot

Citrus black spot (CBS) is a fungal disease, caused by Guignardia citricarpa, that has a high economic impact on citrus. Although G. citricarpa has been associated with black spot of citrus, an adequate pathogenicity test is still not available. Thus, our objective was to develop and evaluate a simple, safe, and practical pathogenicity test. We used fruits from Pera-Rio and Valencia sweet orange trees from two different orchards, located in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Inoculation was performed by placing six disks colonized by G. citricarpa, onto the peel of healthy fruits, previously bagged. In the Pera-Rio sweet orange grove, initial symptoms of the false melanose type resulting from the inoculations were observed 55 days after inoculation (dai). In the Valencia grove, initial symptoms also of the false melanose type resulting from the inoculations occurred 73 dai. A total of 92.8% and 86.6% of the Pera Rio and Valencia fruits inoculated, respectively, showed symptoms of CBS. Citrus black spot symptoms were not observed in any of the control fruits.     

Plant protection problems caused by phytonematodes in Greece1

The major nematode pests of cultivated plants in Greece include root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne spp. (in almost all plants except citrus), cyst-forming nematodes Globodera rostochiensis, G. pallida (in potato), Heterodera avenae (in cereals), Ditylenchus dipsaci (in vegetables and ornamental plants) and Tylenchulus semipenetrans (in citrus). Based on observations made on samples examined at Benaki Phytopathological Institute, it was confirmed that serious infestation of new kiwi orchards with Meloidogyne spp. originated from seedlings infested at the nursery. Also the wide distribution of the nematode Tylenchulus semipenetrans in citrus orchards was mainly attributed to infested seedlings. The above observations led us, in 1985, to the decision to study the nematological fauna of nurseries in Greece.     

New tools for studying epidemiology and resistance of grape powdery mildew to DMI fungicides

Using a Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay, we investigated the genetic polymorphism existing among 62 European isolates of the grape powdery mildew fungus (Uncinula necator [Schw.] Burr.). Isolates overwintering as mycelium in buds were genetically distinct from isolates overwintering as ascospores, suggesting the existence of two genetically isolated powdery mildew populations, and consequently of two independent sources of inoculum in the vineyard. Isolates resistant to fungicides inhibiting sterol 14α-demethylation (DMIs) were found in both populations, suggesting that resistance to DMIs may arise independently in the two powdery mildew populations. A PCR assay targeting the gene encoding U. necator 14α-demethylase has been developed which will permit an early, specific detection of U. necator infections, and may be useful for spraying programmes. ©1997 SCI     

First report of the citrus leafhopper <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penthimiola bella</Emphasis> (Stål) (Hemiptera,Cicadellidae) in Europe

The presence of the citrus leafhopper, Penthimiola bella (Stål) (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae), was detected in citrus orchards in Portugal. This is the first report of this cicadellid in Europe. A survey was carried out in 30 citrus orchards in Algarve, in southern Portugal, based on both the beating method and visual observation of shoots, between July and December 2012. P. bella was detected in a total of 19 orchards distributed throughout the region. The occurrence of reproducing populations of P. bella and its dispersion over a relatively large area of at least 70 km in length within Algarve suggests that this species established and has been expanding its distribution in the region for several years since its arrival. The possible pathway of introduction and its pest status are discussed.