A biological strategy to control obliquebanded leafroller in orchards where a codling moth mating disruption program is underway

Description

To maintain and enhance environmental and health gains, this project will develop a strategy for biological control of the obliquebanded leafroller in orchards where mating disruption is being used against the codling moth.

The initial phase of the project will involve fine-tuning applications of the parasitoid Trichogramma minutum so that releases to control OBLR are uniform and cost effective.

In the second phase we will assess the obliquebanded leafroller populations in a number of Québec orchards.

In the third phase we will compare three strategies for controlling the obliquebanded leafroller that combine crop practices, a Bacillus thuringiensis var. kustaki (Bt) insecticide, and the inundative release of Trichogramma minutum into commercial orchards already using mating disruption against the codling moth.

Objective(s)

• Adjust the parasitoid (Trichogramma minutum) application method used in inundative releases to control the obliquebanded leafroller.
• Compare three strategies for controlling the obliquebanded leafroller that combine crop practices, a Bacillus thuringiensis var. kustaki insecticide, and the inundative release of Trichogramma minutum in commercial orchards using mating disruption against the codling moth.