Second-level Integrated Pest 

 Management in 1991: 

 Insects and Mites 



Margaret Christie, Kathleen Leahy, Jennifer Mason, 

 Jennifer Jaros, Jennifer Taylor, and Ronald Prokopy 

 Department of Entomology, University of Massachusetts 



James Gamble 



Department of Plant Pathology, University of Massachusetts 



Over the past 4 years in Fruit Notes, we have 

 reported the results of our trials with first-level, 

 second-stage integrated pest management 

 (IPM) for insects and mites in Massachusetts 

 orchards. First level, second-stage IPM involves 

 the integration of several methods of control- 

 behavioral, ecological, biological and pesticidal- 

 -of a single class of pests. In 1991, in Massachu- 

 setts, we began a 4-year trial of second-level 

 IPM, in which orchard management is inte- 

 grated across all classes of pests: insects, mites, 

 diseases, weeds, and vertebrates. Last spring, 

 in Fruit Notes [56(2):13-15], we explained the 

 principles of second-level apple IPM, and here 

 we report results of the first year of second- level 

 IPM trials on insects and mites. A recent article 

 [Fruit Notes 57(1):16-17] reported on second- 

 level IPM trials on diseases. 



Insect and mite management under second- 

 level IPM requires application of three to four 

 selective insecticide sprays from April to early 

 June to manage plant bugs, sawflies, plum 

 curculios, fruitworms, and the first generations 

 of codling moths, lesser appleworms, 

 leafminers, and leafhoppers. Insecticide appli- 

 cation to the interior of the block ceases after 

 early June, allowing natural populations of 

 predatory insects and parasitoids to increase to 

 levels sufficient to provide control of summer 

 populations of foliar pests. Apple maggot flies 

 are controlled by perimeter traps in full second- 

 level blocks, or by perimeter row sprays in tran- 



sitional second-level blocks. Removal of 

 unmanaged apple and pear trees within 100 

 yards of each block reduces immigration of co- 

 dling moths and lesser appleworms. Removal of 

 drops after harvest discourages buildup of 

 within-orchard populations of apple maggot 

 flies, codling moths, and lesser appleworms. 



In early April of 1991, we selected 12 test 

 blocks of six to nine acres each. The primary 

 apple cultivar was Mcintosh, but blocks in- 

 cluded Cortland, Delicious, Empire, and other 

 cultivars as well. Six of the 12 test blocks were 

 full second-level IPM blocks. Six were transi- 

 tional second-level blocks, using some but not all 

 of the practices of full second-level blocks. Each 

 second-level block was matched with a nearby 

 control block which was managed by the grower 

 using first-level IPM methods, in which treat- 

 ment decisions are based on monitoring and 

 pesticides are the primary treatment. 



Full Second-level IPM 



Early Season Management. For control 

 of pests active up to early June, second-level 

 IPM relies on early season pesticide treatment 

 based on monitoring. We monitored each or- 

 chard weekly beginning in mid-April, then 

 changed to biweekly from mid-June through 

 September. Five each of three types of sticky 

 traps were hung in each block to monitor for 

 tarnished plant bug (TPB), leafminers, and 



Fruit Notes, Spring, 1992 



