Effects of Fine-Mesh Exclusion Netting on Pests of Blackberry.

Ryan Kuesel,Kendall Archer,Delia Scott Hicks,Amber Sciligo,David Gonthier,Ricardo Bessin

doi:10.3390/insects10080249

Abstract

Fine-mesh exclusion netting is a potential alternative to organic and conventional insecticide application to control numerous pests of fruit crops. We tested whether fine-mesh exclusion netting would reduce pest abundance and increase marketable yield compared to organic spinosad insecticide sprays in an organically managed blackberry field. At the completion of flowering, we covered blackberry rows with fine-mesh exclusion netting (ProtekNet) and treated alternating rows with an organic spinosad insecticide (Entrust™). Fine-mesh exclusion reduced green June beetle (Cotinus nitida Linnaeus) and bird presence and marginally reduced Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica Newman) presence on blackberry canes compared to organic spinosad insecticide treatment. Exclusion netting reduced the capture of spotted-wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii Matsumara; “SWD”) in baited traps in the fourth week of exclusion and reduced the overall number of SWD adults emerging from harvested blackberry fruits. Marketable yield in the fine-mesh exclusion treatments was two times higher than the organic spinosad insecticide treatment. These results suggest that fine-mesh exclusion netting is a functional pest control alternative to insecticide treatment for organic blackberry production.

Highlights

Caneberry growers struggle to meet the demands for fresh, local, and organic fruit due to strong pest pressure, which is a challenge to manage without the use of insecticides [1,2]
Marketable yield in the fine-mesh exclusion treatments was two times higher than the organic spinosad insecticide treatment. These results suggest that fine-mesh exclusion netting is a functional pest control alternative to insecticide treatment for organic blackberry production
This interaction suggests that our two treatments of fine-mesh exclusion versus organic insecticide sprays affected the presence of spotted wing Drosophila inside each row quite variably across each of the four weeks

Summary

Introduction

Caneberry growers struggle to meet the demands for fresh, local, and organic fruit due to strong pest pressure, which is a challenge to manage without the use of insecticides [1,2]. Conventional insecticides in the pyrethroid, organophosphate, and spinosyn classes are efficient in controlling most insect pests of fruit crops, many endanger beneficial organisms like pollinators and natural enemies of pests [3]. Organic farmers need effective alternatives to organic insecticides [6]. Given that a number of fruit crops, including caneberries, depend on pollination and natural enemies to improve yield or fruit quality, growers and researchers continue to develop and improve pest-control strategies that are effective alternatives to insecticidal sprays [7]

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