Effects of low rates of esfenvalerate on pest and beneficial species of apple in comparison with a standard program

Abstract

A low rate (11.2 g·ha-1 a.i.) of esfenvalerate was tested as a single application in a seasonal program of pest control in apple orchards in comparison with the current standard program based on azinphosmethyl. The standard program provided good control of codling moth (<0.5% fruit injury) and leafrollers. Integrated control of tetranychid mites was consistent throughout the 3 years of the test. Esfenvalerate at the pink stage of apple bud development was tested to provide a rotational material for chlorpyrifos for control of leafrollers. This treatment provided suppression of leafrollers in the first year of the test and, in combination with the summer codling moth controls, maintained them at very low levels throughout the 3 years of the test. This treatment failed to provide suppression of Campylomma verbasci when substituted for chlorpyrifos in the prebloom period. Some suppression of first generation white apple leafhopper nymphs was achieved, and there was minimal impact on integrated mite control. Esfenvalerate at first codling moth cover was tested as a rotational material for azinphosmethyl for codling moth control. This treatment provided control of codling moth and leafrollers that was equivalent to the standard program. However, it tended to suppress parasitism of white apple leafhopper by a mymarid egg parasitoid, Anagrus sp. In addition, there was a serious perturbation of integrated mite control in this treatment during 1994, resulting in high mite populations ( > 50 per leaf). Of the two timings of esfenvalerate tested, the pink timing appeared to minimize the detrimental impact of this material and may be of use in orchards with leafroller problems. © 1999 by The Haworth Press, Inc.