Pear Injurious Insects

A Lecture To ToT trainees ( FFS)

By Mr. Allah Dad Khan

Provincial Coordinator IPM KPK

MINFAL Pakistan

CODLING MOTH The codling moth, Cydia pomonella, is a small, indistinct

gray adult moth that fl ies mostly at night, so often goes unseen unless trapped. • Presence of “frass” at stem or calyx end of fruit indicates larval feeding inside fruit. • Relatively cold regions may have only one generation of the codling moth, while in the warmest apple-growing areas the codling moth may pass through two to three generations per season. • If present and not controlled, can become a key pest, capable of infl icting serious economic los

 

MITES Mites • In high enough numbers, pearleaf

blister mites (Phytoptus pyri) and pear rust mites (Epitrimerus pyri) can reduce the photosynthetic effi ciency of leaves and cause russeting on fruit. • Both species will likely be more troublesome in dusty conditions, as the dust interferes with their natural predators. • Another pest that contributes to poor yields and smaller fruit is the spider mite. • European-pear cultivars are more sensitive to mite feeding than Asian pears. • Pears that are drought-stressed will be more susceptible to mite damage.

Pearleaf blister mite damage on 'Chanticleer' pear

Pearleaf blister mite damage on new growth of 'Chanticleer' pear

PEAR PSYLLA Pear Psylla The pear psylla (Cacopsylla pyricola), an

aphid-like insect whose only host is the pear, is the crop’s most signifi cant insect pest. • The honeydew left by the psylla damages the fruit by supporting growth of sooty mold and causing a black russeting. • Pear psylla is also an important vector of fi re blight and pear decline disease, and can weaken trees in areas of heavy infection

PEAR PSYLLA EGGS AND EARLY INSTAR NYMPH (E. BEERS, JULY 2007)

PEAR BUGS • Stink bugs, tarnished plant bug, and

other true bugs (insects in the order Hemiptera) will readily feed on pears throughout the growing season. • Early feeding damage may result in a pucker or dimple in the fruit. • Mid- and late-season feeding often results in the development of so-called “stone cells” immediately beneath the feeding site.

 AN EGG MASS OF THE BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUG, HALYOMORPHA HALYS STÅL, AND NEWLY EMERGED 1ST INSTAR NYMPHS ARE SHOWN

PEAR SLUG

Pear slugs are slimy insects that feed on the surface areas of pear tree leaves. They range in color from dark green to orange and have swollen heads. Although they resemble common garden slugs, pear slugs are actually the immature stage of a non-stinging wasp known as a sawfly. These pests can be controlled by insecticides such as soaps or by washing off larvae with a strong jet of water.

PEAR SLUG

Figure 1: Pear slug larva on leaf and characteristic feeding injury. Pear slug

PEAR MIDGE

Pear midges are small white maggots that feed on young pears. Signs of pear midges are young fruit that fail to develop properly and instead become black before they fall to the ground. Infected fruit are called bottlers and contain as many as 50 maggots when opened. These maggots grow to about 1/7 inch when mature, according to Chest of Books.com. Destroy all infected fruit and cultivate soil around an infected tree to kill off wintering pear midges by exposing them to cold weather.

PEAR MIDGE

Pear Midge damage to fruit Picture from Ontario Crop IPM

LEAFROLLERS (OMNIVOROUS LEAFROLLER, REDBANDED LEAFROLLER, ETC)

Symptoms Leaves of plant rolled and tied together

with silk webbing; feeding damage to rolled leaves; defoliation of plant; silk webbing may also be present on fruits and fruits may have substantial scarring from feeding damage; larvae wriggle vigorously when disturbed and may drop from plant on a silken thread

LEAF ROLLER

Fruittree leafrollerArchips argyrospila Walker

Egg(s) on host

Fruittree leafrollerArchips argyrospila Walker

LEAF ROLLER

Fruittree leafrollerArchips argyrospila Walker

Adult

Fruit tree leafrollerArchips argyrospilus Walker

LEAF ROLLER Leafrollers (Omnivorous leafroller,

Redbanded leafroller, etc)Platynota stultanaArgyrotaenia velutinana

Symptoms Leaves of plant rolled and tied together with silk

webbing; feeding damage to rolled leaves; defoliation of plant; silk webbing may also be present on fruits and fruits may have substantial scarring from feeding damage; larvae wriggle vigorously when disturbed and may drop from plant on a silken thread

Cause Insect