Green Peach Aphid (GPA) on Peaches


Regional Information

  • Has not been a general problem since 1994 and introduction of pyrethroid insecticides to control OFM

Site Specific Monitoring

  • Cultivar and site specific
  • Feeding on nectarines causes direct fruit injury.
  • Nectarines should be monitored intensively and have a lower threshold.

Monitoring Techniques Thresholds

  • Examination of infested terminals and colonies (at least 10 trees per block)
  • Peach - 30% infested terminals or 20 active (live) colonies per tree
  • Nectarine - 10% of terminals or 5-10 active colonies per tree
  • Monitor for the presence of predators in aphid colonies: lady bird beetles and their larvae, syrphid (hover) flies, lacewing larvae.

Additional Notes

  • Presence or absence of predators may delay need for chemical controls.
  • Use of mating disruption technology to control OFM may increase risk of GPA infestation - intensive monitoring necessary, but increased GPA activity may be balanced by increased predator activity.
  • Do not spray aphicidies in an attempt to control disease spread (e.g. PPV) - aphicides can actually increase the rate of disease transmission by aphids.

Commonly Used Control Options

  • Pirimor now registered but restricted application up to shuck fall
  • Thiodan - fair to poor control - not recommended
  • Pyrethroids timed for OFM appear to give good suppression of GPA

Related Links

 


For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
Local: (519) 826-4047
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca
Author: Neil Carter - former Tender Fruit and Grape IPM Specialist/OMAFRA
Creation Date: 01 November 2002
Last Reviewed: 04 May 2005