ISSN:
1570-7458
Keywords:
Eurytoma amygdali
;
Hymenoptera
;
almond pest
;
sex pheromone
;
population monitoring
;
chemical control
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract During the four years 1986–1989 we monitored an adult male population of the almond seed wasp, Eurytoma amygdali Enderlein, in the region of Thessaloniki, using sex pheromone traps, each containing 25 living virgin females. The emergence of adults from infested almonds of the previous year was also monitored in cages in the field, as well as the progress of fruit infestation and egg hatching in the almonds of the Retsou variety. Finally, two chemical control experiments were done against the newly hatched larvae to determine the optimal time for chemical control. During the 4-year study the start of adult captures occurred between April 13 and April 24, and the maximum between April 17 and May 11. In most cases, adult emergence from infested almonds in field cages began with a delay of 2 to 14 days in relation to the start of trap captures, and was affected by factors such as the date of cage installation. In all years most eggs hatched within 12–18 days of oviposition. A treatment with phosphamidon at a concentration of 0.06%, applied to tree branches of the Retsou variety with a hand-sprayer on May 23, 1987, when 54.1% of the eggs had hatched, was very effective (final infestation in July was 4.7% as compared to 89.1% of the untreated control). Three treatments with phosphamidon 0.06%, applied each on different tree branches, on May 14, 20, and 25, 1988, when the percentage of egg hatching was 7.8%, 65.3%, and 93.5%, respectively, were all very effective (final infestation in July was 1.6%, 3.6%, and 4.2% respectively, as compared to 93.6% of the untreated control). However, the presence of mines in the perisperm and outer endosperm, caused by the feeding larvae before they were killed, was more conspicuous in the almonds treated when the percentage of egg hatching was high. Our data suggest that the almond seed wasp can be effectively controlled with a single treatment of a systemic insecticide against the newly hatched larvae, preferably applied when the percentage of egg hatching is low to medium (between 10% and 50%). In the area of Thessaloniki, during 1986–89, 10% and 50% of egg hatching occurred about 21 and 27 days respectively after the beginning of male adult captures in pheromone traps.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00185635
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