Effects of Seasonal Mineral Oil Applications on the Pest and Natural Enemy Complexes of Apple

Abstract

This 3-yr study examined the use of two different apple, Malus domestica Borkhausen, pest management programs based on horticultural mineral oil. Whereas oil provided some additional control of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), when targeting eggs of both generations (Oil/Direct Pest program, typically six applications per season), the additional benefit was difficult to detect when densities were high. With moderate densities, oil reduced the number of fruit infestations, but not stings (unsuccessful entries). There also were some measurable benefits to leafroller, Pandemis pyrusana Kearfott control. Oil was most useful, however, in suppression of secondary pests. White apple leafhopper, Typhlocyba pomaria McAtee, was the primary target of oil applications in the Oil/Indirect Pest program (typically three applications per season). However, leafhopper suppression in the Oil/Direct Pest program was generally greater because of the higher number of applications. Phytophagous tetranychid and eriophyid mites also were suppressed by more oil applications. Predatory mite populations were lower in both oil programs than in the check, but it is difficult to determine whether direct toxicity or reduction of prey was responsible for lower predator populations. There also was some evidence that oil suppressed woolly apple aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum Hausman. The six-spray oil program largely prevented a woolly apple aphid outbreak that occurred in July and August 1998 in the check, although the three-spray program seemed to provide some suppression despite the nonspecific spray timing.

A Review on the Mode of Action and Current Use of Petroleum Distilled Spray Oils

“…PDSOs have been found to be effective against numerous orchard pests including scales and mites Beattie and Smith, 1993), whiteflies (Larew and Locke, 1990;Liang and Liu, 2002), aphids (Najar-Rodríguez et al, 2007), psylla (Zwick and Westigard, 1978;Weissling et al, 1997), and fruit-feeding Lepidoptera (Davidson et al, 1991;Al Dabel et al, 2008). In apple orchards, the interest in PDSOs as part of integrated pest management programs has increased in the past years, particularly for the control of secondary pests (Fernandez et al, 2005). This is in part due to better PDSOs formulations, but it also arises from a decline in the use of broad spectrum insecticides due to stricter regulations and to the widespread use of mating disruption (Fernandez et al, 2005).…”

“…In apple orchards, the interest in PDSOs as part of integrated pest management programs has increased in the past years, particularly for the control of secondary pests (Fernandez et al, 2005). This is in part due to better PDSOs formulations, but it also arises from a decline in the use of broad spectrum insecticides due to stricter regulations and to the widespread use of mating disruption (Fernandez et al, 2005). Recent studies have also suggested new uses of PDSOs against a wider range of pests, such as the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in maize (Mensah et al, 2005a(Mensah et al, , 2005bAl Dabel et al, 2008), Helicoverpa spp.…”

Seletividade de inseticidas utilizados em cultura cafeeira para larvas de Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant

“…O óleo mineral é recomendado para o controle de diversas pragas agrícolas de importantes culturas, como cafeeiro, citros, macieira, pessegueiro, entre outras, sendo utilizado em aplicação foliar como inseticida, acaricida e também como fungicida, atuando inclusive como diluente, adjuvante e espalhante adesivo. Seu efeito sobre artrópodes-praga, por exemplo, pode estar associado à sua capacidade de penetrar através da cutícula desses organismos e, quando em associação com inseticidas, apresentam efeito sinergístico, potencializando a capacidade de penetração dos compostos tóxicos e aumentando a ação tóxica destes (FERNANDEZ, et al, 2005;MANZONI et al, 2006;MAPA, 2010). No entanto, em relação à sua ação isolada sobre larvas de primeiro e segundo instares de C. montrouzieri, como observado no presente estudo, parece estar associada a um efeito mecânico, atuando diretamente nos espiráculos das larvas, causando mortalidade desses organismos por anoxia.…”

Invasion Genetics of Woolly Apple Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in China

“…A few of the neonicotinyl insecticides, such as thiamethoxam and imidacloprid, can suppress both Lepidoptera and woolly apple aphid Himmel 2002, Hogmire andBrown 2001). Horticultural mineral oil products can suppress woolly apple aphid and many other pests while having minimal effect on natural enemies (Fernandez et al 2005). Relatively few studies have been done on control of edaphic colonies with new products.…”