The Canadian Entomologist (2016) 148, 724-735

Christopher Burgart, Neil K. Hillier and Suzanne Blatt (2016)
Apple cultivar preferences by Hoplocampa testudinea (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Canada
The Canadian Entomologist 148 (6), 724-735
Abstract: The European apple sawfly, Hoplocampa testudinea (Klug) (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), is an economically important pest in eastern Canada. Growers can experience significant crop losses as management of this species is difficult because it is present during bloom. As a result, management strategies other than pesticides are required for this pest. Eleven commercial and experimental apple (Malus pumila Miller; Rosaceae) cultivars were studied to evaluate host resistance as a potential management strategy. Preferences were determined using field surveys of adult visitation, larval infestation of apples, damage at harvest, behavioural bioassays, and electrophysiological tests. Significant differences in visitation and infestation were observed. H. testudinea preferred "Zestar!", "s23-06-153", and "Pinova" over other cultivars examined. Comparison with subsequent larval counts and damage also suggest differential performance of larvae in several cases, irrespective of the adult preference. Y-tube bioassays and electroanntennography results indicate that olfaction plays a role in cultivar discrimination for this species.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): N. Kirk Hillier

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
resistance/tolerance/defence of host
pheromones/attractants/traps

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Hoplocampa testudinea	Apple (Malus)	Canada (east)