Publication 360, Fruit Production Recommendations: Integrated Pest Management

Publciation 360, Fruit Production Recommendations > Chapter 2, Pest Management > Integrated Pest Management

Excerpt from Publication 360, Fruit Production Recommendations 2010-11,
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Introduction

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an approach to pest control that considers all management options to maintain pests below an economic injury level. Tools for pest management include cultural, physical, biological, behavioural and chemical methods. With IPM, adverse effects of pesticides are minimized and economic returns are maintained.

IPM programs make extensive use of information collected in the cropping system and require careful management by the grower. To implement an IPM program it is important to understand:

pest identification, biology and behaviour
beneficial organisms
monitoring techniques
use and timing of appropriate management tools
record keeping
resistance management strategies
sprayer calibration

For more detailed information see the following publications:

OMAFRA Publication 310, Integrated Pest Management for Apples
ONTARIO CropIPM: Integrated Pest Management Training available on the OMAFRA website at www.ontario.ca/cropIPM or in OMAFRA Publication AF141 (CD format).

Monitoring

Systematic monitoring of pest populations, weather conditions, plant health and disease symptoms is very important to IPM programs. Monitoring is best done by the same person or service. Information on field history, soil type, spray records and weather is important when you interpret monitoring results. Complete records are important for year to year comparisons.

Monitoring can include sampling, the use of traps, and/or visual scouting.

Sampling

Collect data to represent the entire area monitored.
Divide large areas into sample blocks no larger than 8-10 ha for tree fruit and grapes, and 2.5 ha for berry crops. Cultivar, training system, plant density, soil type, topography and age of the planting should be as consistent as possible in each sample block.
Walk in a W or zig-zag pattern across the block to collect samples from a representative area.
Look away from the plant when you take samples of leaves and fruit, otherwise you will tend to choose damaged leaves or fruit and bias the sample.

Trapping

Use pheromone or visual traps to provide information on pest activity and insect numbers (Table 2-1. Examples of Traps Used for Monitoring Fruit Pests). Trap catches can provide validation of degree-day models, which predict insect emergence and information to optimize spray timing.

Pheromone traps

Pheromone traps use a female sex pheromone lure and a sticky trap to attract male adults. The lure is specific to each insect species. Use pheromone traps to determine the presence or absence of pests and to detect the first sustained flight or activity peaks of certain pests. Pheromone traps are less useful for providing information on population levels and risk of damage.

To determine the first sustained catch in pheromone traps, ignore early sporadic catches. A sustained catch is the start of a continual period of moth activity, which continues for at least two consecutive collection periods. It is important to have pheromone traps set for one to two weeks before first flight of the pest is expected.

Visual traps

Yellow sticky boards and red spheres are attractive to certain insects, especially flies, because they provide a visual stimulus. These traps can indicate the presence and relative abundance of a pest.

How to use traps

Place traps in the field 1-2 weeks before the expected emergence of the insect.
Follow pest-specific guidelines concerning the number and location of traps for the crop.
Clear foliage and branches away from the trap.
Use separate traps for each species and label traps clearly.
Pheromone lures are pest-specific. They are very sensitive to contamination from other types of pheromones. When you use several types of pheromones at once, wear disposable gloves to prevent cross-contamination and maintain a minimum of 40 m between traps, or the distance recommended by the manufacturer.
Use flagging tape to mark the location of traps.
Check traps twice weekly and record the number of pests caught. Remove the insects at each visit.
Traps require maintenance. Replace the trap when it becomes too dirty or is no longer sticky. When you replace traps, transfer the old lure into the new trap.
Pheromone lures generally have a 3-6 week life span but this varies by product. Replace the lures according to the manufacturer's instructions. Store unopened, unused pheromone lures in the refrigerator.

For a list of trap and pheromone suppliers, see Pest Monitoring Equipment Suppliers and Beneficial Insects and Mites Suppliers

**Table 2-1. Examples of Traps Used for Monitoring Fruit Pests** (PDF 117 kb)
Pest	Crop	Type of Trap
Codling moth	Walnut, apple	CM pheromone, Diamond trap
Walnut husk maggot fly	Walnut	Yellow sticky cards
Currant fruit fly	Currant, gooseberry	Yellow sticky cards
Cranberry fruitworm	Blueberry	Cranberry fruitworm pheromone, Wing traps
Cherry fruitworm	Blueberry	Cherry fruitworm pheromone, Wing traps
Grape berry moth	Grape	GBM pheromone, Diamond traps
Blueberry maggot	Blueberry	Yellow sticky cards
Obliquebanded leafroller	Apple, pear	OBLR pheromone, Diamond traps
European apple sawfly	Apple	3-D white sticky traps

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