PLANT PROTECTION 1 – Pests, Diseases and Weeds

PLANT PROTECTION 1 – Pests, Diseases and Weeds
– Desire traps (InSense Duo Lure) have both
female pheromones (sex scents) that attract male
moths and a karimone (food scent) that attracts
female moths. Many male and female moths are
caught on replaceable sticky pads and fewer eggs
are laid. Contact Desire Pest Management:
http://insense.com.au/products.htm
Desire Codling moth trap. PhotoInsense
– Mating disruption (MD) is used in large orchards
(pages 44, 91 Fig. 62). The orchard is saturated with
synthetic female pheromone emitted from slow-release
dispensers (tiers). This prevents male moths from using
pheromones emitted from female moths to locate and
mate with the females (confusion strategy).
However, MD interferes with the use of pheromone
traps for monitoring moth populations to determine if
there is a need to supplement MD with other treatments.
Like all technologies mating disruption must be
managed well. New attractants are being researched.
– Nematodes, Steinernema carpocapsae (Millenium )
can be applied to ‘overwintering’ larvae. Timing of
application is based on favourable weather conditions.
www.beckerunderwood.com/
Resistant varieties. All apple and pear varieties
seem to be equally susceptible. Late ripening apples may
be particularly susceptible.
Plant quarantine.
AQIS (Australian Quarantine & Inspection
Service). It is illegal to bring fruit into Australia.
Interstate and regional quarantine.
– Codling moth does not occur in WA. The
movement of infested fruit and packing cases is
strictly controlled by Interstate and Regional
Quarantine Regulations within Australia.
– In WA and other areas where codling moth
does not occur . If infested fruit is found (an apple or
other pome fruit with a frass-filled tunnel reaching
to the core) take it to the nearest agricultural office
for identification. Fruit from the eastern states must
be declared at checkpoints and airports. Monitoring
is carried out to detect any incursions.
Table 9. Codling moth – Some insecticides and bio-controls.
What to use?
STICKY TRAPS
Used for monitoring attract male codling moths only.
May assist control. Desire codling moth kits attract both
male and female codling moths for one season.
MATING DISRUPTION (MD) TIERS
Isomate C Pheromone Insect Confusion Agent
Isomate C-S Pheromone Insect Confusion Agent
Isomate CTT Pheromone Insect Confusion Agent
Isomate C/OFM TT Pheromone Insect Confusion Agent
Disrupt-CM Mating Disruption Agent
IF PREDATORY MITES ARE BEING USED
COVER SPRAYS
Group 1A, eg carbaryl (not on food-producing plants in home gardens)
Group 1B, eg Lebaycid (fenthion), others
Group 3A, eg Gringo , Talstar , various (bifenthrin)
Group 4A, eg Calypso (thiacloprid); Sumarai (clothianidin)
Group 5, eg Entrust , Success , Tracer ® (spinosad);
Delegate (spinetoram)
Group 7B, eg Insegar (fenoxycarb)
Group 18, eg Mimic (tebufenozide)
Group 22A, eg Avatar (indoxacarb)
Group 28, eg Altacor (chlorantraniliprole)
Spray oils, eg Summer spray oils (paraffinic oil, petroleum oil)
Local quarantine. As moths only fly short
distances do not bring in fruit, fruit cases, etc into
isolated properties where codling moth does not
occur.
Physical & mechanical methods.
In home gardens, artificial cocooning sites
such as bands of clothe or corrugated cardboard tied
with wire around tree trunks, allows ‘overwintering’
larvae to be trapped and destroyed.
Exclusion products, eg 'Apple Pouches' are
available for purchase!
Insecticides.
Successful codling moth control with
chemical pesticides depends on competent spraying.
Since 1 mated female can produce > 1000 2 nd brood
caterpillars, good spraying will not only produce a
clean crop, but will reduce the ‘overwintering’
population in the orchard.
Sprays are directed to killing the moths (not
caterpillars which almost immediately burrow into
fruit out of reach of pesticides). The aim is to put a
thin layer of spray on the upper surfaces of as many
leaves and young fruit as practicable. The better the
coverage, the more effective will be the spray. When
moths alight on leaves and young fruit in the
evening, they absorb the chemical through their feet.
Some insecticides used to control codling moth
may kill the natural enemies of two-spotted mite,
woolly aphid and other pests, so that further sprays
are required to control these pests, eg carbaryl.
Select insecticides which will control codling moth
but not affect natural controls and any biological
control agents used to control other pests.
Some insecticides, may disfigure some
varieties of fruit if applied before, during
or shortly after adverse conditions. Check the label.
Resistance to many insecticides used to
control codling moth has occurred.
Implement sanitation measures.
– Prune trees to ensure good spray coverage.
Check sprayer calibration, get advice if unsure.
– Use mating disruption if the block meets minimum
requirements regarding size www.bioglobal.com.au/
– Follow Croplife Australia resistance management
strategies.
When and how to apply?
Regular weekly counts provide a reliable means of
monitoring population levels ensuring the accurate
timing of chemical or non-chemical controls .
Suitability depends on size and layout of blocks. Seek
advice from district horticulturist if necessary.
May be necessary to supplement MD with insecticide
and sanitation measures.
Apply dispensers at the recommended times during
each season, rate per hectare, height and distribution.
Only use pesticides recommended by the supplier to
control codling moth, twospotted mite and other pests.
A minimum number of sprays may be compulsory
under legislation. Check.
Follow label instructions for rates, number of
applications and interval between applications. Fewer
sprays are required if damage was not severe the
previous season. Spraying usually commences at
petal fall or soon after.
Thoroughly wet every part of foliage and fruit with
spray.
Observe with-holding periods.
Insegar is an IGR and prevents eggs from hatching.
92 Insects and allied pests - Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths)