AN INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR APPLE ORCHARDS IN SOUTHWESTERN QUEBEC,

Abstract

AbstractAn IPM program was developed to control Venturia inaequalis (Cke.) Wint., Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beaiivois), Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst), and Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh), the annual key pests of apple orchards in southwestern Quebec. The program was found to control other pests, such as Orthosia hibisci (Guenée). Phytophagous tetranychids were controlled with the introduction of an organophosphate-resistant strain of Amblyseius fallacis Garman, Key pests were monitored carefully and pesticide applications were timed to correspond to their presence in the orchard. After an extremely severe winter and late spring frosts, the IPM program failed to provide commercially acceptable pest control. A measure to correct this problem is suggested in the text. This program reduced the cost of pesticide treatments by 34% when compared with pest control practices currently used by commercial growers in Quebec.