Canada's Organic Science Cluster

Activity F.7: Control of Rosy Apple Aphid (RAA) in Organic Apple Orchards

Objectives:

In this study, we are proposing to test one chemical and two mechanical control strategies to reduce the spring populations of rosy apple aphids.  The chemical strategies include autumn and spring oil applications at various application dates.  The mechanical strategies include the removal of plantain, the alternate host, from the orchard system through flail mowing, and rotavating and reseeding with an orchard grass mix. The timing of applications is crucial for both autumn and spring applications. As such, we will be using pheromone traps to verify the timing of the autumn migration of rosy apple aphids in southern BC.  We will also be using a degree day model developed by Graf et al. (2006) to time the spring oil applications. 

Learn More:

• Activity Summary
• Background and Supporting Documents
• Activity Researchers

Interesting Results to Date:

• NEW!! Managing a critical pest in Canada’s organic apple heartland
• NEW!! Management Strategies for Control of the Rosy Apple Aphid, Dysaphis plantaginaea (Passerini) (Homoptera: Aphididae) in Organic Apple Orchards in British Columbia
• Stay tuned for additional reports, newspaper articles, and extension bulletins related to this activity.

 

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