THE INFLUENCE OF SPRAY PROGRAMS ON THE FAUNA OF APPLE ORCHARDS IN NOVA SCOTIA: XX. TRENDS AFTER ALTERING LEVELS OF PHYTOPHAGOUS MITES OR PREDATORS

Abstract

Utilizing 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.