New and resurgent insect pests on low trellis hops

Abstract

Abstract Selective insecticides have largely displaced broad‐spectrum products on cultivated hops, allowing a resurgence of historic pests and new ones to arise. The present study reports the incidence of 30 insect species from four insect Orders and 14 Families feeding on aphid susceptible and/or aphid‐resistant low trellis hop cultivars in south‐east England and at three West Midland sites. Three are Kent Red Data Book species [Adoxophyes orana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), Hypena rostralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Psylliodes attenuatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)] and three are DEFRA biodiversity action plan priority insects [Acronicta rumicis, Melanchra persicariae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Spilosoma lubricipedia (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae)]. Six common lepidopteran species severely damaged hop cones (Adoxophyes orana, Autographa gamma, Epiphyas postvittana, Eupitheca assimilata, Mamestra brassicae and S. lubricipedia), whereas Biston betularia, H. rostralis, Melanchra persicariae and Phlogophora meticulosa did not. European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) feeding on hops in Kent are the so‐called E‐pherotype. Lygocoris pabulinus (Hemiptera: Miridae) caged on developing flowering lateral shoots reduced numbers of developing hop cones by 38% and cone weight by 42%, whereas Liocoris tripustulatus caused no losses. Companion plants in the drive alleys between rows of hops reduced the incidences of L. tripustulatus and S. lubricipedia.