Orkun B. Kovanci

Evaluation of extended-season mating disruption of the Oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lep., Tortricidae) in apples

Abstract:  Oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lep., Tortricidae) has recently become a key pest of apples throughout the eastern USA. Pheromone‐mediated mating disruption of Oriental fruit moth was successfully used in North Carolina apple orchards in the past few years. However, low levels of late‐season fruit damage occurred in some orchards treated in late May with hand‐applied pheromone dispensers because of inadequate dispenser longevity. To investigate alternative pheromone application schedules for extended mating disruption control, the following pheromone treatments were compared with conventional insecticides in Henderson County (NC) in 2002: late May application of hand‐applied dispensers; late June application of hand‐applied dispensers; late May application of hand‐applied dispensers supplemented with a late August application of sprayable pheromone dispensers; late May application of hand‐applied dispensers which have a longer activity period; and conventional insecticides as a control. All treatments were sprayed with an insecticide at petal fall in late April for thinning and for control of the first generation Oriental fruit moth adults. Pheromone trap catches were significantly reduced in all mating disruption blocks compared with conventional insecticide blocks. Among pheromone treatments, the highest trap captures were recorded in the delayed hand‐applied dispenser treatment in June before treatment. However, the mean percentage fruit damage did not vary with timing of application of hand‐applied dispensers and the type of pheromone dispenser used. Clearly, the combination of each mating disruption treatment with insecticide application against first generation Oriental fruit moth was as effective as the conventional insecticide treatment under moderate population pressure.

Comparison of Mating Disruption with Pesticides for Management of Oriental Fruit Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in North Carolina Apple Orchards

Abstract The efficacy of mating disruption by using Isomate-M 100 pheromone dispensers and two formulations of microencapsulated sprayable pheromone for management of oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck), was compared with conventional insecticides in large plot studies in Henderson County, North Carolina, in 2000 and 2001. In addition, experiments were conducted in small and large plots to test the response of oriental fruit moth males to different application rates of sprayable pheromone. Pheromone trap catches were significantly reduced in mating disruption blocks compared with conventional and abandoned orchards. Pheromone traps placed in the upper canopy captured significantly more moths than traps placed in the lower canopy across all treatments, and lures loaded with 100 μg of pheromone caught more moths than traps with 300 μg, but the difference between doses was statistically significant at only one location in 2001. Isomate-M 100 provided excellent trap shutdown and was significantly more effective than sprayable pheromone formulations. Fruit damage by oriental fruit moth larvae was very low (≤1%) in mating disruption blocks and was generally lower than in conventional and nonmanaged blocks. Based on male moth response to pheromone traps in small plots, there was little difference among doses of sprayable pheromone, ranging from 12.4 to 49.1 g (AI)/ha, but efficacy declined at 2.4 g (AI)/ha. With the exception of one orchard, there was no significant difference between 12.4 and 37.1 g (AI)/ha under low and high oriental fruit moth population pressure in large plot studies. Mating disruption proved to be an alternative to organophosphate insecticides for managing oriental fruit moth populations in North Carolina apple orchards.

Effects of pheromone loading, dispenser age, and trap height on pheromone trap catches of the oriental fruit moth in apple orchards

The effects of field aging (0–28 days) and pheromone loading rate on the longevity of red rubber septa loaded with the sex pheromone blend of the oriental fruit mothGrapholita molesta (Busck), were evaluated in North Carolina apple orchards in 2002. Separate field tests examined the influence of trap height and pheromone loading rate of rubber septa on trap catches of adultG. molesta males in an abandoned orchard. The loss of the major pheromone component, (Z)-8-dodecenyl acetate (Z8–12:OAc), from red rubber septa over a 4-week period exhibited a relatively constant release rate with 30, 100 and 300 µg pheromone. Trap catch was significantly higher in pheromone traps placed in the upper canopy than in those in the lower canopy. Pheromone traps baited with 100µg lures caught more moths compared with those loaded with 300 µg. There was no apparent relationship between pheromone trap catch and septa age, with trap catch appearing to be primarily a function ofG. molesta population density.

Effects of application rate and interval on the efficacy of sprayable pheromone for mating disruption of the oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta

The efficacy of microencapsulated sprayable pheromone was evaluated at different application rates and intervals for mating disruption of the oriental fruit moth,Grapholita molesta (Busck), in apple orchards during 2002. The following treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications: (i) a low rate of pheromone (6.2 g a.i. ha−1) applied at 14-day intervals, (ii) a medium rate of pheromone (12.4 g a.i. ha−1) applied at 28-day intervals, (iii) a high rate of pheromone (24.7 g a.i. ha−1) applied at 28- day intervals, and (iv) a non-pheromone control (insecticides only). The combination of a single insecticide application against first generationG. molesta at petal fall with one pheromone application each for the second, third and fourth generations at 12.4–24.7 g a.i. ha−1 successfully controlled low populations. Pheromone-treated blocks. had significantly lower trap catches than those in the insecticide-treated control blocks. Among pheromone treatments, significantly more moths were caught in the 6.2 g compared with the 12.4 and 24.7 g rates. Fruit damage was <1% at harvest and there were no significant differences among treatments. Low rate frequent applications of sprayable formulation appeared to be effective under low pest pressure but efficacy declined with increasing populations. Further studies are needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach under higher pest pressure.

AN ANNOTATED LIST OF THE GREEN LACEWINGS (NEUROPTERA: CHRYSOPIDAE) OF NORTHWESTERN TURKEY, WITH NEW RECORDS, THEIR SPATIO-TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION, AND HARBORING PLANTS

ABSTRACT The occurrence and distribution of green lacewing species (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) were studied in northwestern Turkey in 1992-2005. A total of 3529 green lacewing adults were collected from 154 localities, representing 23 species. Among these, 21 species belonged to the subfamily Chrysopinae, while only two species were members of the subfamily Nothochrysinae. Four species were new records for northwestern Turkey. The most frequently caught species were Chrysoperla carnea sensu lato and Dichochrysa prasina, with percent dominance values of 26.10 and 18.22%, respectively. The cumulative number of chrysopid species was highest during July with a total of 18 species per month. There were 13, 20, 19 and one chrysopid species occurring at altitudes between 1-500, 501-1000, 1001-1500 and >1500 m species, respectively. Rexa raddai, was recorded at altitudes higher than 500 m, namely 925 m, for the first time. In addition, plant species harboring chrysopids are provided for each species and their association with the chrysopid fauna is discussed.

Species composition, seasonal dynamics and numerical responses of arthropod predators in organic strawberry fields

Abstract The species composition and relative abundance of predatory arthropod fauna were studied in organic strawberry fields in northwestern Turkey using sweep net sampling and pitfall trapping (activity density). Arachnida constituted 13.1 and 11.5% of the sweep net and pitfall trap catches, respectively. Among the predatory insects, the most abundant groups were Heteroptera (26.7%), Diptera (25.9%), Coleoptera (16.9%) and Orthoptera (10.8%) in sweep net samples. Coleoptera (84.2%) dominated the pitfall trap catches. Many aphid specific and polyphagous predators reached peak abundance during June and July. Pearsons two-tailed correlations showed a significant and positive relationship between syrphid, coccinellid or chrysopid predator numbers and strawberry aphid density. Aphid density was not significantly correlated with carabid or with nabid abundance. Examination of spatial distribution patterns of all predatory arthropod groups using Taylors Power Law indicated that most arthropod predators, except carabids, exhibited aggregated dispersion patterns. Coccinellids changed their spatial patterns from a uniform to an aggregated distribution through the season. There was also a significant linear correlation between Anterastes sp. abundance (larvae+adults) and Isophya rectipennis+Poecilimon ricteri (larvae+adults) density at both locations. We observed, for the first time, Anterastes preying on Isophya and Poecilimon species. The seasonal abundance of the major predatory groups were described, and their potential importance in controlling strawberry aphid and other pests is discussed.

Laboratory Assay of Toxicity and Oviposition Deterrence of Selected Vegetable Seed Oils Against Cacopsylla pyricola (Homoptera: Psyllidae)1

Abstract Laboratory assays of the toxicity of seven vegetable seed oils (artichoke, bitter melon, castor, flaxseed, mustard, peach kernel, and rosehip) to eggs and nymphs of the pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola (Foerster), were conducted as well as the oviposition-deterrent potential of the oils to female winterform and summerform morphotypes. Despite low to moderate toxicity to the eggs, the oils caused high levels of nymph mortality (up to 99%) with mortality levels depending on the type of oils and the concentrations tested. Exposure to flaxseed, mustard, artichoke, and bitter melon oils resulted in the highest nymphal mortality. Overall, the deterrence of oviposition by the oils was higher against winterform females than summerform females. In choice tests, all oils except flaxseed oil at 1% and rosehip oil at 1%, 1.5%, and 2% deterred oviposition by winterform females. Female summerform oviposition was deterred in choice tests by peach kernel oil at 1% and mustard oil and bitter melon oil at 2%. In no-choice tests, significantly fewer eggs were produced by winterform females following treatment with mustard, bitter melon, artichoke, and flaxseed oils, and over 83% deterrence of summerform oviposition was observed in flaxseed and mustard oil treatments. Severe phytotoxic effects were observed with only a high concentration (2%) of artichoke and bitter melon oils. Based on these results, mustard, flaxseed, bitter melon, and artichoke oils appear to be candidates for development of control agents against eggs and nymphs of the winterform morphotype C. pyricola.

Feeding and oviposition deterrent activities of microencapsulated cardamom oleoresin and eucalyptol against Cydia pomonella

Behavioral manipulation of codling moth with spice-based deterrents may provide an alternative control strategy. Microencapsulation technology could lead to more effective use of spice essential oils and oleoresins in the field by extending their residual activity. The feeding and oviposition deterrent potential of the microencapsulated cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum [L.] Maton) oleoresin (MEC-C) and eucalyptol (MEC-E) were evaluated against codling moth, Cydia pomonella Linnaeus, 1758. MEC-C capsules contained both 1,8-cineole and a-terpinyl acetate, whereas MEC-E capsules contained only 1,8-cineole. In larval feeding bioassays, MEC-E exhibited the lowest feeding deterrent activity (33%) while MEC-C at 100 mg mL-1 had the highest (91%). The highest oviposition deterrence activity against gravid females was also shown by MEC-C at 100 mg mL-1 with 84% effective repellency. In 2010 and 2011, two apple orchards were divided into four 1 ha blocks and sprayed with the following treatments in ultra-low volume sprays: (a) MEC-E at 100 g L-1, (b) MEC-C at 50 g L-1, (c) MEC-C at 100 g L-1, and (d) MEC-pyrethrin at 15 mL L-1. Water-treated abandoned orchards were used as negative controls. Moth catches were monitored weekly using Ajar traps baited with the combination of codlemone, pear ester, and terpinyl acetate. Based on pooled data, mean cumulative moth catch per trap per week was significantly higher in the MEC-E blocks (26.3 male and 13.5 female moths) than those in other treatments except the abandoned blocks. At mid-season and pre-harvest damage assessment, the percentage of infested fruits with live larvae in the high dose MEC-C-treated blocks was reduced to 1.9% and 2.3% in 2010 and to 1.1% and 1.8% in 2011, respectively. Since fruit damage exceeded the economic damage threshold of 1%, high-dose MEC-C treatment may only offer supplementary protection against codling moth in integrated pest management programs.

The brown lacewings (Neuroptera, Hemerobiidae) of northwestern Turkey with new records, their spatio-temporal distribution and harbouring plants

The brown lacewings (Neuroptera, Hemerobiidae) of northwestern Turkey with new records, their spatio-temporal distribution and harbouring plants. The occurrence and spatio-temporal distribution of brown lacewing species (Neuroptera, Hemerobiidae) in Bursa province, northwestern Turkey, was investigated during 1999-2011. A total of 852 brown lacewing specimens of 20 species, including the genera of Hemerobius, Megalomus, Micromus, Sympherobius, and Wesmaelius were collected. Of these, 12 species were new records for northwestern Turkey while Sympherobius klapaleki is a new record for the Neuroptera fauna of Turkey. The most widespread species were Hemerobius handschini and Sympherobius pygmaeus with percent dominance values of 42.00 and 15.96%, respectively. Wesmaelius subnebulosus was the earliest emerging hemerobiid species and had the longest flight activity lasting from March to October. The species of southern origin characterized by the Mediterranean elements constituted 55% of the hemerobiid fauna and prevailed over the species of northern origin that belong to the Siberian centres. The total number of hemerobiid species reached a peak in July with captures of 15 species per month. There were 11, 13, 18 and 5 hemerobiid species occurring at altitudes between 1-500, 501-1000, 1001-1500 and 1500-2000 m, respectively. In addition, plant species harbouring hemerobiids are given for each species, and their association with the hemerobiid fauna is discussed.