Effect of cardboard shelter traps on predation of diaspidid scale insects by european earwigs <i>Forficula auricularia</i> in kiwifruit

Abstract

European earwigs Forficula auricularia L are important predators of diaspidid scale insects in New Zealand kiwifruit As European earwigs readily hide during the day in shelter traps made of corrugated cardboard strips rolled into cylinders it may be possible to manipulate the level of scale predation The effect of trapping duration on aggregation of earwigs and whether the addition of shelter traps to kiwifruit vine canopies led to increased numbers of earwigs and predation of scale insects were investigated More earwigs were found in cardboard shelter traps exposed for up to 8 weeks than shorter periods However shelter traps were not associated with increased numbers of earwigs in vine canopies or with increased predation of scale insects Predation of scale insects was 7382 and on individual canes depended on the initial density of scale Further study is needed to realise the potential of earwigs as predators of scale insects and other pests

The feasibility and efficacy of early-season releases of a generalist predator (Forficula auriculariaL.) to control populations of the RAA (Dysaphis plantagineaPasserini) in Southeastern France

“…This behaviour may also have led some earwigs to disperse from RAA colonies to prospect for other food sources. The method used for monitoring and studying the earwig population dynamics (artificial cardboard shelters) does not reflect the real density of earwigs in orchard trees. Although the suitability of these shelters is controversial (e.g., Burnip et al ., 2002; Logan et al ., 2007) and the attempts to find new sampling methods (Suckling et al ., 2006), cardboard shelters, remain to date the only sampling method adapted to this kind of study. These shelters stimulate earwig aggregation because of the emission of a volatile aggregation pheromone (Walker et al ., 1993).…”

Report on the life history traits of the generalist predatorForficula auricularia(Dermaptera: Forficulidae) in organic apple orchards in southeastern France

“…2002; Logan et al . 2007). Thus, there are attempts to find new sampling methods, such as darkened diet tubes capable of sampling for the presence of frass (Suckling et al .…”

“…The suitability of the artificial shelters used in this study as a method of monitoring and studying earwig population dynamics is controversial (e.g., Burnip et al 2002;Logan et al 2007). Thus, there are attempts to find new sampling methods, such as darkened diet tubes capable of sampling for the presence of frass (Suckling et al 2006), which have been successfully used later in many studies (e.g., Romeu-Dalmau et al 2012b).…”

Woolly apple aphidEriosoma lanigerumHausmann ecology and its relationship with climatic variables and natural enemies in Mediterranean areas

“…According to Lordan et al ( 2014 ), the shelters were prepared by rolling a piece of corrugated cardboard into a cylinder (12 cm height×9 cm diameter), which was protected from rain and adverse conditions by a PVC tube (15 cm height×9.5 cm diameter). Similar shelters have been used in studies of European earwigs elsewhere (Phillips, 1981 ; Helsen et al , 1998 ; Solomon et al , 1999 ; Burnip et al , 2002 ; Gobin et al , 2006 ; Logan et al , 2007 ; He et al , 2008 ; Moerkens et al , 2009 ). Every week throughout the year, we counted the number of earwigs per shelter.…”