Rosy apple aphid (Dysaphis plantaginea) management in organic fruit production (Biofruitnet Practice Abstract)

Summary

Preventative measures and control strategies for Rosy apple aphids and links specific them are provided.
Practical recommendation
Preventive measures
• Proper nitrogen fertilisation
• Mechanical removal of affected shoots (via pruning)
• Functional biodiversity (natural antagonists) promotion4 by seeding flower strips in the inter-rows and actively maintaining hedges. Useful natural antagonists include:
• Coleoptera coccinellidae (predators): Adalia bipunctata, Coccinella septempunctata and C. decempunctata.
• Neuroptera Chrysopidae: Chrysoperla carnea (predators at the larval stage)
• Diptera Cecidomyiidae: Aphidoletes aphidimyza (predators at the larval stage)
• Diptera Syrphidae: In the larval stage, they are excellent predators.
• Monitoring aphids from the pink bud phase until fruit development (fruit size up to 10 mm). Inspect the foliage of a random sample of 50 trees.
Direct control with Neem
• Due to the multiple generations and quick reproduction of these aphids, timely treatment is necessary.
• When stem mothers(foundresses) in the field are detected during monitoring, treatment must be carried out.
• The first treatment with Neem extracts products should be done around the stage of “tight cluster-pink”. Depending on aphid development, it is recommended to split the treatments and apply a second treatment at the end of blossom.