Aphid regulation in covered organic apricot production by open rearing and releasing of beneficial insects

Summary in the original language of the document

Aphids are the main pests in organic low stem stone fruit orchards with weather protection and lateral nettings. Under the favourable microclimatic conditions and the limited access of beneficial insects, large aphid colonies can develop from a few fundatrices. As part of a series of experiments in 2022, beneficial insects (hoverflies, parasitic wasps, lacewings and ladybirds) were used in their capacity as natural predators of aphids. Specifically, in one of the trials, hoverflies, ladybirds and lacewings were actively introduced into an enclosed apricot tunnel. In the other trial, the beneficial insects were attracted by stripes of barley infested with cereal aphids when the aphids on the apricot trees were not yet in the mass reproduction phase. In both trials, the aphids were successfully reduced with the help of beneficial insects alone, so that no damage was caused to the crop. Furthermore, the different types of beneficial species have been released to find the most promising species for biocontrol in organic apricot production. As for the beneficial species, hoverflies have been found to be the most promising, while lacewings disappeared after their release and were no longer detectable. However, further trials at other locations and with adaptations such as the creation of flowering strips for the adult insects are needed to verify the findings and further develop the system.