Gesunde Pflanzen (2008) 60, 15-21

Bettina Welke, Inga Mewis, Tanja Mucha-Pelzer, Arunava Goswami and Christian Ulrichs (2008)
Stammapplikationen im Obstbau mit nanostrukturierten Silikaten gegen die Blutlaus Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausm.) und den Gemeinen Ohrwurm Forficula auricularia L.
[Fine silica particles applied onto fruit tree stems against Woolly apple aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausm.) and the Europaen earwing, Forficula auricularia L.]
Gesunde Pflanzen 60 (1), 15-21
Abstract: The present work deals with a new strategy to control Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausm.) in apple and Forficula auricularia (L.) in apricots. With common insecticides, both pests are difficult to control. Although F. auricularia is regarded as a beneficial insect, in ecological agriculture it has the potential to cause severe economical damage in apricots.
In apple and apricot orchards we tested treatments on the bark with diatomaceous earth (DE) products to prevent insects from reaching the tree crown. DE has been applied as liquid ('Fossil Shield^®' translucend) by a backpack sprayer or electrostatically as powder ('Fossil Shield^®' 90.0 s). In some trials we covered the treated area with a plastic funnel (fruitcap) in order to protect the silica-product from wind and rain. Experiments were evaluated weekly and number of insects in the tree crown was counted. During the first two months after treatment E. lanigerum population in the crown was reduced by 98.2%. However, over the whole period of six month the barriers turned out to be ineffective (p = 0.617). Winged adults have been capable to pass the barriere. In contrast to this fruitcap barriers were able to keep F. auricularia away from the crown (p = 0.000). They have been as effective as standard treatment using glue. In such treatments apricot yield increased 6-fold for the cultivar 'Goldrich' and 5.5-fold for the cultivar 'Hargrand'.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: German)
Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Christian Ulrichs, Inga Mewis

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Eriosoma lanigerum	Apple (Malus)	Germany
Forficula auricularia (predator)			Germany