Apple sawfly (Hoplocampa testidunea) is a major pest in organic fruit production. Eggs are laid during bloom in the flower bottom. Larvae move to 2-3 other fruits and devastate the young fruitlets.
Solution
Sawflies are attracted to the white colour of the flowers. White sticky traps have been used for many years to monitor flight. An innovative method is to catch sawflies with white sticky tape to decrease the population.
Description
Catching sawflies reduces the need for intervention and decreases damage.
Practical recommendations
Fixing the white sticky tape:
• Start before the first flowers are open with Rimpro / Fruitweb models that predict the start of the flight.
• Hang 150-250 sticky tapes per hectare, depending on infection pressure.
• Fix the sticky tapes with staplers between the horizontal wires of the trellis system between the trees.
• In orchards without a trellis system, research about an effective method of fixing the tapes is needed.
• No branches should cover or move against the sticky tapes.
• One person on the working platform for the top wire and two persons for the lower wires are needed.
• Two rows can be done at once.
• The distance between the wires can vary from 1 to 2 m. Start at the high wire and go down to the lower wire.
• Remove the bands soon after flowering to prevent the bycatching of bees and natural enemies.
Monitoring the effect: Check the number of egg-laying stiches in the flower bottom. The threshold is 1-4 stitches/100 flower clusters.
Direct control measurements
• Remove infested fruits manually in spring (reduces primary- and secondary infestation).
• When necessary, use Quassia or NeemAzal-T/S at bloom/petal fall.
• Check the permission status for Quassia in your country.
Costs: 255-502€/ha, depending on length and number of tapes (length 1 or 2 m, amount 150-250/ha, 10-14 hours labour à 18€/hr, tape 0,5€/m).
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