Apple Leafcurling Midge Research Articles

Influence of temperature and flowers on longevity of adult <i>Platygaster demades</i>

Failure by Platygaster demades to provide effective biological control of apple leaf curling midge (ALCM) may be because the second spring generation of the parasitoid is asynchronous with that of its host Asynchrony may result from relatively slow development of P demades at low temperatures in spring In laboratory experiments adult female P demades provided with honeyagar diet lived significantly longer at 11deg;C (479 28 days) than at 19deg;C (194 days) and 27deg;C (27 days) Platygaster demades were provided with fresh flowers of Anethum graveolens (dill) Coriander sativam (coriander) Fagopyrum esculentum (buckwheat) Lobularia maritime (alyssum) Phacelia tanacetifolia (purple tansy) and Sinapis alba (white mustard) Both sexes lived longest (and comparably to the honeyagar diet) when provided with buckwheat flowers The possibilities for using buckwheat in apple orchards to prolong the first generation of P demades sufficiently to synchronise with the second generation population of ALCM are discussed

Phenology of apple leafcurling midge (<i>Dasineura mali</i>) in relation to parasitism by <i>Platygaster demades</i>

The phenology of apple leafcurling midge (ALCM Dasineura mali) and that of its parasitoid Platygaster demades was monitored in orchards over several years in the Nelson district There were 45 generations of ALCM the first two being distinct while the following generations tended to overlap Host and parasitoid populations were generally synchronized except for the second generation when parasitoid numbers were low and parasitism levels dropped Midge populations increased rapidly at this time and remained high in subsequent generations despite moderate levels of parasitism Laboratory studies on the effect of temperature on host and parasitoid pupal development rates combined with weather station data and actual soil temperatures were used to develop a model to predict generation timing Platygaster demades adults had a longer development period and emerged later than ALCM adults The influence of host and parasitoid phenology on parasitism levels and biological control of ALCM is discussed

The impact of early season insecticides on biological control of apple leafcurling midge (<i>Dasineura mali</i>)

The fate of apple leafcurling midge (ALCM Dasineura mali) egg batches was monitored in spring 2003 at two apple orchards in Riwaka near Motueka Orchard A had received prebloom insecticide applications of chlorpyrifos and carbaryl for fruit thinning each season since 2000 Orchard B substituted these chemicals with the selective insecticide buprofezin and used benzyladenine for fruit thinning over the same period Predation and parasitism of ALCM eggs at orchard B resulted in lower survival of larvae and less damage to shoots compared to orchard A Ninety percent of ALCM larvae at orchard B were parasitised by Platygaster demades compared with only 3 at orchard A Heavy infestation of shoots by second generation midge larvae at orchard A resulted in premature termination of 69 of growing shoot tips These results suggest that nonselective early season insecticides used in pipfruit spray programmes may disrupt biological control of ALCM

Emergence of apple leafcurling midge (<i>Dasineura mali</i>) and its parasitoid (<i>Platygaster demades</i>)

Apple leafcurling midge (Dasineura mali) (ALCM) can seriously damage apple tree leaves Insecticides may be applied to the soil in spring to kill ALCM emerging from overwintering sites ALCM emergence was studied in the Waikato Hawkes Bay Nelson Canterbury and Central Otago over two seasons (1998/99 and 1999/ 2000) using cages placed over the soil beneath apple trees ALCM and its egg parasitoid (Platygaster demades) emerged over a similar period of time Emergence in southern districts began later and over a shorter period A single soil treatment with diazinon reduced the numbers of ALCM emerging from treated soil but also very few P demades emerged

Role of apple leafcurling midge in the spread of fire blight

The incidence of apple leafcurling midge (Dasineura mali) (ALCM) infestations in association with fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) was monitored in the 1997-98 season. In two blocks of MM106 apple rootstocks, increased fire blight incidence coincided with severe outbreaks of ALCM. Rain did not occur prior to severe outbreaks of both pests. Trees with no ALCM infestation did not develop fire blight, while 61.7% of those with ALCM infestation subsequently developed fire blight. ALCM damage to leaves predisposed them to fire blight infection. These findings provide the first quantitative evidence that ALCM may be involved in the spread of fire blight.

Soil degradation of diazinon and its effect on the emergence of apple leafcurling midge

The degradation of diazinon residues in the soil of an orchard on the Waimea Plains, Nelson was determined. The half life of diazinon varied significantly between 12.2 and 27.7 days, depending on the time of application. Soil applications of diazinon had a significant effect on the emergence of adult apple leafcurling midge (ALM) (Dasineura mali Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). More ALM were captured in the control and plots treated with diazinon on 7 September than in plots treated with diazinon on 21 September and 5 October.

Target and non-target impacts from diazinon applied against <i>Dasineura mali</i> in a Canterbury apple orchard

The control of apple leafcurling midge (Dasineura mali) with diazinon was investigated as part of an Integrated Fruit Production programme. A soil drench was applied against the emerging adults of the first generation (pre-flowering), and compared with a foliar application against the second generation (early December). Nontarget effects on the biodiversity of ground dwelling arthropods were examined using pitfall traps before and after diazinon applications, and on arboreal diversity using brushed leaf samples. Drench, foliar spray, and a combination of these treatments, all reduced percentage of damaged shoots compared to untreated plots. Drench and foliar applications gave similar results. Little impact on ground-dwelling arthropod biodiversity was detected following the drench or foliar applications. The biodiversity of foliage-dwelling (mainly beneficial) arthropods showed a significant reduction after foliar treatment.

Plant Volatiles Mediate Host-Finding Behavior of the Apple Leafcurling Midge

The behavioral responses of apple leafcurling midge,Dasineura mali Kieffer, mated females to foliage from host and nonhost trees were investigated in a wind tunnel. When released downwind of apple or pear foliage, females exposed to apple were more likely to exhibit upwind flight and to approach and land on foliage. On apple foliage, landings were concentrated on buds and immature leaves. Probability of taking flight and latency to flight did not differ for females exposed to apple and pear. When foliage was placed behind screens to obscure plant visual stimuli, females again distinguished between apple and pear, with more of the females exposed to apple odors flying upwind and landing. Females exposed to pear odors were more likely to fly upwind, approach, and land than females exposed to clean air. Odors from immature apple foliage triggered orientation responses in a larger percentage of females than odors from mature apple foliage. A dichloromethane extract of immature apple foliage also triggered orientation responses.

Apple leafcurling midge egg laying on different apple cultivars and orchard properties on the Waimea plains, Nelson

During the 1995-96 and 1996-97 growing seasons, regular monitoring of apple leafcurling midge (ALM) (Dasineura mali Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) egg laying was conducted in three conventionallymanaged orchard properties on the Waimea Plains, Nelson. The percentage of apple shoots infested with ALM eggs fluctuated considerably between seasons. The timing of egg laying peaks was similar between orchard properties, but differed between cultivars. Peak egg laying periods occurred 7-14 days earlier on ‘Royal Gala’ compared with ‘Braeburn’. No notable difference in the level of apple shoot tips infested with ALM eggs occurred between cultivars. Similarly, no orchard property had consistently higher or lower levels of shoot tips infested with ALM eggs during the season. The importance of these findings for monitoring ALM is discussed briefly. apple leafcurling midge, Dasineura mali, egg laying, apple cultivar, monitoring

Integrated fruit production (IFP) for New Zealand pipfruit: evaluation of disease management in a pilot programme

A pilot Integrated Fruit Production (IFP) programme for pest and disease management was evaluated on approximately 88 apple orchards throughout New Zealand. Insect control was based on increased use of biological control, monitoring and threshold-based applications of insecticides. The insect growth regulator tebufenozide was used for control of codling moth and leafrollers, while homopteran pests and apple leafcurling midge were controlled by oil, buprofezin and organophosphate insecticides. The frequency of post-bloom insecticide use was reduced by 40-60% when compared with conventional programmes, and organophosphate use decreased to 0.5-1.0 applications. Insect control is discussed together with the cost of pest management under integrated and conventional fruit production.

Sex pheromone communication in the apple leafcurling midge (<i>Dasyneura Mali</i>)

The use of a pheromone for sexual communication by the apple leafcurling midge (ALCM) was demonstrated in field and laboratory tests. In field tests, traps baited with virgin ALCM females caught large numbers of ALCM males. Empty traps and traps baited with ALCM males caught no males. When flight responses of male ALCM to various odour sources were tested in a wind tunnel, males flew upwind and landed on cages that contained virgin ALCM females and on filter papers treated with a pentane extract of virgin ALCM females. Males did not fly upwind to mated ALCM females, odours released by apple foliage, filter papers treated with pentane, or pear leafcurling virgin females. Male ALCM that emerged between the hours of 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. responded to pentane extracts of virgin ALCM throughout the day of their emergence.

Effects of leaf damage by apple leafcurling midge (<i>Dasyneura mali</i>) on photosynthesis of apple leaves

Effects of leaf damage by apple leafcurling midge (<i>Dasyneura mali</i>) on photosynthesis of apple leaves

Assessment of azinphos-methyl resistance in apple leafcurling midge from New Zealand apple orchards

Assessment of azinphos-methyl resistance in apple leafcurling midge from New Zealand apple orchards

A survey of apple leafcurling midge (<i>Dasyneura mali</i>) management in Waikato orchards

A survey of apple leafcurling midge (<i>Dasyneura mali</i>) management in Waikato orchards

The apple leaf-curling midge,Dasyneura maliKieffer, seasonal history, varietal susceptibility and parasitism 1955-58

Summary During the 1955-56 and 1956-57 seasons at Palmerston North, the apple leaf-curling midge, Dasyneura mali Kieffer, reached significant proportions. Infestation in 1957-58 was less than in the previous two seasons. There are normally five generations of the midge between early October and late April. The parasite, Prosactogaster demades Walker, attains a generally high level of parasitism of D. mali, but its failure to check the second generation restricts its effectiveness as a controlling agent. The use of suitable chemicals to control the second generation would complement the parasite during this period. No apple varieties are entirely immune, and the degree of susceptibility and infestation is determined by the quantity of terminal growth present. No marked varietal preference was detected.

Control of the Apple Leaf-Curling Midge With DDT in Codling Moth Sprays

Journal Article Control of the Apple Leaf-Curling Midge With DDT in Codling Moth Sprays Get access L. R. Brown, L. R. Brown Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar J. E. Dewey J. E. Dewey Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 44, Issue 3, 1 June 1951, Pages 425–426, https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/44.3.425 Published: 01 June 1951

The Apple Leaf-Curling Midge, a New Pest of Apples1

The Apple Leaf-Curling Midge, a New Pest of Apples1