Phenology and distribution of the apple leafcurling midge (Dasineura mali (Kieffer)) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) and its natural enemies on apples under biological and integrated pest management in Central Otago, New Zealand

• Published in: New Zealand entomologist Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. 87 - 106
• Main Authors: Wearing, C. H, Marshall, R. R, Attfield, B, Colhoun, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Auckland Taylor & Francis 01.07.2013; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: adults; Apples; Biological control; Cecidomyiidae; cultivars; Dasineura; Dasineura mali; Diptera; Diseases and pests; eggs; fruiting; gall midge; Gall midges; Herbivores; integrated pest management; larvae; Malus; Malus domestica; midges; monitoring; natural enemies; Orius vicinus; oviposition; parasitoids; Pests; Phenology; Plant resistance; planting; Platygaster; Platygaster demades; population density; predatory insects; Sejanus; Sejanus albisignata; shoots; summer; temperature; trees; New Zealand
• ISSN: 1179-3430; 0077-9962; 1179-3430
• DOI: 10.1080/00779962.2012.712887

Damage by apple leafcurling midge Dasineura mali , and the numbers of its predators Orius vicinus and Sejanus albisignata , were monitored from 1994 to 1998 on terminal, lateral, spur, and fruiting shoots of a range of apple cultivars under integrated and organic pest management at Clyde, Central Otago. The predators were also monitored using beating trays. The phenology of egg laying and damage by apple leafcurling midge, and the adult numbers of its egg parasitoid Platygaster demades , were recorded on ‘Royal Gala’ apples from 1997 to 2000 at the same location. Apple leafcurling midge completed three to four generations per year depending on summer temperatures, with greatest larval damage by the second generation in December/January, particularly to terminal and lateral shoots. Although each apple cultivar was planted in a discrete block, there were large differences in damage which persisted over several seasons, suggesting significant variation in cultivar susceptibility. Colonisation of the trees by P. demades was slow but monitoring of adult numbers indicated good synchronisation with midge egg laying from the 1998–99 season. Both predatory bug species occurred at higher density on midge-damaged shoots than on undamaged shoots. Analysis of midge damage in relation to the population density of the bugs indicated that midge damage fell in response to high densities of S. albisignata and was high only when this species was at low density. On the other hand, O. vicinus appeared to be a minor predator because higher densities of O. vicinus were correlated with higher midge damage and there was no evidence that this led to a later reduction in the midge population. This research has indicated that P. demades, S. albisignata , and plant resistance can all play an important role in the biological control of apple leafcurling midge.