Control of woolly aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann) (Hemiptera: Pemphigidae) on mature apple trees using insecticide soil-root drenches

Adrian H. Nicholas, Robert Spooner-Hart, R. A. (Richard) Vickers

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

    13 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Woolly aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum, is an important pest of apples that infests both the aerial and root parts of the tree. Root colonies are protected from the pesticide sprays applied during the growing season and the climatic effects of winter. Consequently, root colonies are a major source of aerial re-infestation in the following spring. Imidacloprid, the first of a new group of insecticides from the chloronicotinyl family, is known to provide excellent control of woolly aphid on trees up to 7-years-old when applied as a root soil drench. This study compared the effects of a single application of chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid, pirimicarb or vamidothion, applied as a root drench over four growing seasons. A soil wetting agent was added to each chemical to improve soil saturation and penetration. Imidacloprid provided excellent control of woolly aphid on the trees that were 17-years-old at the start of the study and continued to do so for four seasons. Pirimicarb appeared to offer some suppression of woolly aphid during the first season but not in subsequent seasons, while chlorpyrifos and vamidothion failed to control woolly aphid in any season. The potential role for imidacloprid in IPM programs is discussed.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)6-11
    Number of pages6
    JournalAustralian Journal of Entomology
    Volume42
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2003

    Keywords

    • Imidacloprid
    • apples
    • biological control
    • diseases and pests
    • research
    • woolly apple aphid
    • Subterranean infestation
    • Root drenching

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Control of woolly aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann) (Hemiptera: Pemphigidae) on mature apple trees using insecticide soil-root drenches'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this