Jacques Lasnier

Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) Diversity and Abundance in Two Quebec Vineyards

Abstract The wine-making region of southern Quebec in Canada experiences growing conditions that are unique in northeastern North America. After an outbreak of insect pests in 1996, a study of insect groups that may include potential pests or beneficial species was initiated. This article reports on the weevil diversity and abundance during three consecutive years of sampling (1997–1999) in two vineyards. All weevils were collected using pitfall and flight intercept traps. In total, 3,176 specimens were collected, representing 73 species in three families of Curculionoidea. The family Curculionidae was the most species rich, especially the subfamilies Ceutorhynchinae, Curculioninae, and Entiminae. Four of the species recorded are known to feed on the genus Vitis (Vitaceae) in North America: Madarellus undulatus (Say), Barypeithes pellucidus (Boheman), Otiorhynchus ovatus (L.), and Otiorhynchus sulcatus (F.). Of these, O. sulcatus is thought to represent the greatest potential threat based on adult abundance at one of the sites and the negative impact of this species in other wine-making regions in North America. Four species [Ceutorhynchus oregonensis Dietz, Pelenomus waltoni (Boheman), Rhinoncus perpendicularis (Reiche), and Sphenophorus minimus Hart] are recorded in Quebec for the first time. A significant number of weevils collected during this study are adventive species associated with agroecosystems of northeastern North America.

Diversity and Seasonal Activity of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in Two Vineyards of Southern Quebec, Canada

Abstract From 1997 to 1999, 11,435 specimens of ground beetles representing 124 species were captured in pitfall traps at two commercial vineyards in southern Quebec, Canada. Taking into account only the species breeding or likely breeding in the two vineyards, the carabid diversity was similar over the 3-yr period in both sites. The number of species was similar (51 and 54) in both vineyards, but the most common species were ranked differently in a position that was consistent over the 3-yr period. Chlaenius sericeus (Forster) and Clivina fossor (L.) occurred mainly on the clay loam vineyard, and Amara latior (Kirby) and Harpalus herbivagus Say on the gravel and sand loam vineyard. The Shannon diversity and evenness indexes were greater at the gravel and sand loam vineyard. Two recently introduced European species, Harpalus rufipes (Duftschmid) and Pterostichus vernalis (Panzer), became more prevalent between 1997 and 1999 and are likely to affect the rank position at each site. Diversity at the clay loam vineyard was equal to another unsprayed and annually cultivated site on clay in the ecozone. It shared with the unsprayed site a similar number of species for an equal sample size, Shannon and evenness indexes, and for most species, ranking of the most commonly trapped species.

Inventory of Predacious Mites in Quebec Commercial Apple Orchards Where Integrated Pest Management Programs Are Implemented

Abstract The commercial apple (Malus spp.) orchard ecosystem in Quebec has a diverse fauna of predacious mites. A systematic 2-yr survey showed Amblyseius fallacis (Garman), Typhlodromus caudiglans Schuster (Acari: Phytoseiidae), and Agistemus fleschneri Summers (Acari: Stigmaeidae) to be the most abundant species. Other phytoseiids, Typhlodromus conspicuous (Garman), Typhlodromus herbertae Chant, Typhlodromus longipilus Nesbitt, Typhlodromus bakeri (Garman), Typhlodromus pyri Scheuten, Amblyseius okanagensis (Chant), and Amblyseius finlandicus (Oudemans), were found in low numbers. Two of these species, A. finlandicus and T. conspicuus, were identified for the first time in Quebec. Other occasional species included Anystis baccarum (L.) (Acari: Anystidae) and Balaustium sp. (Acari: Erythraeidae). Tetranychid mite numbers were always less than two mites per leaf throughout the study, and none of the commercial orchards required an acaricide treatment. A notable aspect of this study was that seasonal totals for A. fleschneri and A. fallacis decreased 7.3- and 42.2-fold, respectively, whereas T. caudiglans increased 9.1-fold from 1999 to 2000. Possible mechanisms for these changes, including variations in winter mortality, competition for food, and intraguild predation are discussed.

Principles of Arthropod Pest Management in Vineyards

The first appearance of Vitis vinifera L. has been dated to between 130 and 200 million years ago, with the human relationship to this plant dating from the Neolithic period. Wild grapes were harvested by foragers and early farmers. For thousands of years, the berry has been harvested for both medicinal and nutritional value and its history is intimately entwined with the history of wine. Domestication of the Eurasian grape (V. vinifera ssp. sativa Hegi) from its wild ancestor (V. vinifera L. ssp. sylvestris (C. C. Gmelin) Hegi) occurred in Transcaucasia where the greatest genetic diversity is found today. Other evidence based on the study of chloroplast DNA polymorphisms indicates there has also been early domestication in the Iberian Peninsula (Arroyo-Garca et al. 2006).

Diversity and Abundance of Leafhoppers in Canadian Vineyards

Abstract Leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) are pests of many temperate crops, including grapevines ( Vitis species). Uncontrolled populations can induce direct and indirect damage to crops due to feeding that results in significant yield losses and increased mortality in infected vineyards due to virus, bacteria, or phytoplasmas vectored by leafhoppers. The main objective of this work was to determine the diversity of leafhoppers found in vineyards of the three main Canadian production provinces, i.e., in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec. Approximately 18,000 specimens were collected in 80 commercial vineyards from 2006 to 2008. We identified 54 genera and at least 110 different species associated with vineyards, among which 22 were predominant and represented more than 91% of all the leafhoppers. Species richness and diversity were estimated by both Shannon’s and Pielou’s indices. For each province, results indicated a temporal variation in species composition. Color photographs provide a tool to quickly identify 72 leafhoppers commonly associated with vineyards.

Characterization of the feeding behavior of three Erythroneura species on grapevine by histological and DC‐electrical penetration graph techniques

Feeding behavior of three leafhopper species – Erythroneura vitis (Harris), Erythroneura ziczac (Walsh), and Erythroneura elegantula (Say) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) – reared on grapevine, Vitis vinifera L. cv. ‘Seyval blanc’ (Vitaceae), was investigated using histological techniques and DC‐electrical penetration graphs (DC‐EPG). Histological studies revealed that the Erythroneura species induced white stipples on the leaves and that these leafhoppers produced thin salivary sheaths in grapevine leaf tissues. The DC‐EPG system allowed the characterization of five waveforms associated with stylet penetration and feeding in leaf tissues. These waveforms were characteristic of feeding phases corresponding to epidermis penetration pathway, salivation, and ingestion. We calculated 28 parameters (e.g., number of probes, duration of phases, and time spent in the various tissues) to describe and compare the feeding behavior of the Erythroneura species. We conclude that the three Erythroneura species are mainly mesophyll feeders but may probably also feed in other tissues such as xylem.

Biocontrol of phytophagous mites in Quebec apple orchards

During the 1980s biocontrol of phytophagous mites was based on the mass rearing and inundative releases of predators in orchards. This approach was found to be unreliable and impractical on a large scale. Since 1990 a highly robust grower-friendly philosophy for biocontrol of phytophagous mites in orchards has been initiated, based on the conservation, re-colonization, and augmentation of several naturally occurring predacious mites in the field. The success of this approach is based on a comprehensive understanding of the toxicology of all pesticides used to manage arthropod pests and diseases of apple. This information is relayed by pamphlets to growers who prepare their own pest management programs, with the help of extension agents. A simple technique has also been developed to transfer pruned winter- and summer-wood from a donor orchard where biocontrol of mites has been established to a recipient orchard where biocontrol is in the process of being established.