Pilot field studies on insect pathogenic fungi to control mirid pests of apples in Norway

Summary in the original language of the document

In a pilot field study conducted in an apple orchard in Hardanger (Western Norway) in two
succesive years both Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae were applied to
apple trees just after hatching of mirid nymphs in spring. Both predatory, omnivorous and
principally plant-pathogenic species of mirids were collected, and all groups of species
were infected by B. bassiana or M. ansiopliae in treated plots. B. bassiana and M.
anisopliae were also found on some individuals in non treated control plots the second
year. M. anisopliae was more predominant in 2006, B. bassiana in 2007. Mirids were also
observed for natural occurrence of parasitoids, and parasitoids were found both years.