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Project Leader(s): K. Iungerman and P. Jentsch: Cornell
Cooperative Extension and Department of Entomology
Cooperator(s): J. Nyrop and D. Straub: Cornell Department
of Entomology
Type of grant: Biological control
and pest biology
Project location(s): eastern NY
Abstract: In contrast to western New York where the mite
predator Typhlodromus pyri is widespread and conserved to provide biological
mite control, biological mite control has not been actively pursued in eastern
New York orchards, at least in part because of the real or assumed absence of
T. pyri. Previous research has shown that T. pyri can provide
complete biological mite control in eastern New York orchards. During 2001 we
began a project to demonstrate this on a large scale. We found that:
Of 11 Hudson valley (HV) and 8 Champlain valley (CV) orchards
where T. pyri were released, the predator was also present in approximately
80% of the plots in these orchards where it was not released. Release of T. pyri increased densities of the predator
2 to 3 fold compared to densities in plots where no releases were made. Densities of European red mite (Panonychus ulmi)
remained low in release plots even though miticides were not used.
These results indicate the strong potential for using T.
pyri in HV and CV orchards to control European red mite.
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