The Influence of Spray Programs on the Fauna of Apple Orchards in Nova Scotia. VI. Low Temperatures and the Natural Control of the Oystershell Scale, Lepidosaphes ulmi (L.) (Homoptera: Coccidae)

1953 ◽  
Vol 85 (8) ◽  
pp. 282-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. T. Lord ◽  
A. W. MacPhee

Some of the results of an attempt to apply ecological principles in the solution of apple insect control problems in Nova Scotia have been given in previous papers by Pickett et al. (1946), Lord (1947, 1949), Pickett (1952), and MacPhee (1952). Briefly, these studies aim at an understanding of the changes in the interrelations of the species in an orcl-lard when spray materials are added to the environment. The emphasis to date has heen placed on the effects of spray chemicals on the populations of entomophagous species. The results of this work have already had a marked effect on orchard insect control practices in Nova Scotia.


1962 ◽  
Vol 94 (9) ◽  
pp. 928-934 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. H. Sanford ◽  
F. T. Lord

In Nova Scotia, a spray program that integrates chemical and natural control of apple pests has been evolved which is both economical and satisfactory. Among the natural enemies of injurious arthropods that have been favoured by this program are a number of general predators. Further investigation of the ecological principles on which integration is based requires a more intensive knowledge of the factors that influence the densities of these predators. Because of the difficulties of investigating these factors in the orchard, methods of simplifying the predator-prey systems have been sought (Lord, 1956, 1962). These attempts assessed the effects of low dosages of DDT on the interrelationships of phytophagous mites and their natural enemies.



1953 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. W. MacPhee

Lord (1949) listed the predators of the European red mite, Metatetranychus ulmi (Koch.), in Nova Scotia and described the effects of a number of chemicals on them. Among the more important predators is the thrips Haplothrips faurei Hood. This thrips, however, does not confine its feeding to European red mite eggs but readily attacks the eggs of many other mites and insects. There is strong evidence that it is one of the most important biotic factors in the natural control of insect and mite pests in Nova Scotia apple orchards. It and another species, Leptothrips mali (Fitch), are the only thrips of economic significance, and H. faurei, because of its greater numbers, is the more important. A description of the life-history of L. mali was given by Bailey (1940), who also (1939) studied the biology of another thrips, Scolothrips sexmaculatus (Perg.), which is of minor importance in Nova Scotia. The only other predacious thrips found is a species bclieved to be Zygothrips minutus Uzel, which occurs only rarely and in small numbers. Haplothrips subtilissimus Hal. (later identified as H. faurei), was found by Putman (1942) in Ontario to be predacious on phytophagons mites and the eggs of oriental fruit moth, Grapholitha molesta Busck.



1964 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 617-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. W. MacPhee

AbstractIn Kings County, Nova Scotia, low temperatures in the coldest nights of winter can differ by as much as 10°F. from one area to another. This has an important bearing on winter survival of some arthropods. Overwintering sites of orchard arthropods range from exposed situations which remain at air temperature to well protected ones on the ground where temperatures rarely go below 20°F. The cold-hardiness of each of 24 species of arthropods was measured: seven were sufficiently cold-hardy to survive any winter conditions in Nova Scotia, five were less cold-hardy but overwinter in well protected sites and twelve had marginal cold-hardiness, their mortality varying with the winter and the locality.



1937 ◽  
Vol 69 (7) ◽  
pp. 145-146
Author(s):  
F. C. Gilliatt

Eulia mariana Fern. was identified in Annapolis Valley orchards about twelve years ago and since has become one of the major orchard pests. Although outbreaks continue to occur, fruit growers should fully appreciate the value of natural control, which in one form or another is always assisting in keeping this insect in check. The various natural control factors may be recorded as follows:(1) Mortality of pupae. (2) Parasites of larvae and pupae. (3) Parasites of eggs. (4) Predators.



1965 ◽  
Vol 97 (8) ◽  
pp. 816-821 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. Pickett

AbstractThis study confirms an earlier finding that the oystershell scale, Lepidosaphes ulmi (L.) is normally controlled in Nova Scotia apple orchards by the aphelinid Aphytis mytilaspidis Le B. and the predacious mite Hemisarcoptes malus (Shimer). The effectiveness of the former may be limited in colder areas by low winter temperatures, and both species are detrimentally affected by some spray chemicals. The evidence presented indicates that either A. mytilaspidis, or H. malus, or the two of them together, may operate as key-factors in regulating the density of oystershell scale populations.



1962 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. T. Lord

The varied interpretations by numerous biologists, of the role of predation in population dynamics have been critically reviewed by Holling (1959) and by Huffaker and Kennett (1956). They conclude that the processes of predation may serve to regulate prey density and disagree with generalizations that minimize the role of predation. This role has been a subject of considerable interest in recent years, notable contributions being the laboratory investigations of Collyer (1958) and Huffaker (1958), and the field studics of Holling (1959).



1970 ◽  
Vol 102 (5) ◽  
pp. 592-601 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. H. Sanford ◽  
H. J. Herbert

AbstractUtilizing the knowledge of their direct effects, the materials ryania, carbaryl, and Animert V-101 applied to a uniformly distributed population of the European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch), altered the populations in plots in an apple orchard. Trends after treatment in both host mite and predator populations were assessed. Supplementary applications of the acaricides Animert V-101 or dicofol directed against certain generations of P. ulmi controlled outbreaks and altered the faunal levels during the following season. Ryania was largely innocuous to most species of predators with the exception of Atractotomus mali (Meyer) and Diaphnocoris spp., carbaryl was detrimental to most predacious species, and Animert V-101, while selectively toxic to phytophagous mites, was innocuous to all predacious insects and Typhlodromus pyri Scheuten.Phytophagous mite populations may be altered to almost prescribed levels with pesticides when the predator populations are known. This allows selective chemicals to be used to complement the predator effect and maintain red mites below the threshold of damage.



1979 ◽  
Vol 111 (9) ◽  
pp. 985-1004 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. MacLellan

AbstractAnnual assessments from 1953 to 1977 of insect damage to the preharvest crop in apple orchards in Nova Scotia show a general decline in injury, except for 1966–68. Laspeyresia pomonella (L.) and fruit chewing insects (chiefly Operophtera brumata (L.), Alsophila pometaria (L.), Orthosia hibisci Guenee, Lithophane spp., and Xylena spp.) caused the greatest amount of fruit damage. Dysaphis plantaginea (Pass.), Campylomma verbasci (Meyer), and Atractotomus mali (Meyer) were serious in some years. In integrated control program orchards the proportion of fruit damaged was twice that in preventative pesticide orchards. Fruit destined for processing had more injury than fruit destined for the fresh fruit market.Population levels of the major insect pests and their natural enemies were monitored regularly and gave early warning of threatening levels of pests. Generally predator population levels were high during periods of selective insecticide use but were low when widely toxic insecticides were introduced into the integrated control program.



1976 ◽  
Vol 108 (5) ◽  
pp. 485-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
John S. Hard

AbstractHemlock sawfly infestations occur most commonly in the warm southern half of southeast Alaska. Biotic factors that limit sawfly populations are a fungus, Entomophthora sphaerosperma, which kills disproportionately large numbers of female larvae; food quality as affected by host site and defoliation; and three ichneumonid parasitoid species, Delomerista japonica diprionis, Oresbius tsugae tsugae, and Itoplectis quadricingulatus, which attack prepupal larvae in cocoons. E. sphaerosperma was the most effective natural control in recent years, especially during wetter than normal summers. Parasites which attack after the fungus has decimated larval populations were most abundant during two dry summers. Parasitization and sawfly emergence were directly related, and both were highly inversely correlated with percentage fungus killed sawflies. Sawflies reared on lightly defoliated trees produced significantly more eggs than those reared on heavily defoliated trees, and fecundity was directly related to cumulative heat units during the summer. Between 1952 and 1974, most negative sawfly population trends south of Frederick Sound occurred when two wet summers occurred consecutively. Apparent widespread collapse of sawfly populations in 1974 was associated with low temperatures in 1973 which delayed sawfly development and reduced opportunities for successful oviposition.



1979 ◽  
Vol 111 (4) ◽  
pp. 487-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. W. MacPhee

AbstractTyphlocyba pomaria McA., with two generations per year, damages the leaves and defaces the fruit of apple. It was reduced in numbers in an experimental orchard by the predatory mirid Blepharidopterus angulatus (Fall.) which attacked the second generation. The cold-hardiness of T. pomaria and B. angulatus overwintering eggs, which had mean freezing points of −35 °C and −34 °C respectively, was sufficient to protect these species from winter low temperatures in Nova Scotia.



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