DO NATURAL ENEMIES CONTROL WOOLLY APPLE APHID?

To prevent unnecessary spraying and to promote biological and natural control of Woolly Apple Aphid (WAA) more knowledge has to be obtained about the role of natural enemies.
Therefore, a model has been developed that integrates biology and lifecycles of WAA and its most important natural enemies A phelinus mali, Forficula auricularia and Exochomus quadripustulatus. With exclusion and feeding experiments it is tried to qualify and to quantify the relative role of the various natural enemies of WAA. Observations showed that in early springtime E. quadripustulatus and during the summer F. auricularia and sometimes C. septempunctata play an important role.
Parasitization level by Aphelinus mali in springtime is often too low to be effective in time for the farmer although during summertime parasitization may be high.
Simulations revealed WAA/natural enemy ratios necessary for control.

International Conference on Integrated Fruit Production

P.J.M. Mols

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1996.422.34