Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, 1980 Folwell Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.
University of Minnesota Extension, 1420 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.
J Econ Entomol. 2023 Dec 11;116(6):2104-2115. doi: 10.1093/jee/toad197.
Exclusion netting in some European and North American apple (Malus domestica Borkhausen, Rosaceae, Rosales) orchards has been documented to be an effective method of control for multiple insect pest species. By minimizing reliance on insecticides, these orchards have reduced costs, risks to the environment and non-target species, and reduced the risk of insecticide resistance. This study examined the use of commercially available hail netting (DrapeNet®; Prosser, WA) as a pest exclusion strategy under conditions in Minnesota, USA. In 2021 and 2022, we assessed the efficacy of hail netting as a tool for pest suppression in orchards by monitoring pest species in netted and open plots crossed with and without insecticide applications. Our findings show that both of the major pest species in Minnesota, the codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.; Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and the apple maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella Walsh; Diptera: Tephritidae), were significantly reduced inside the netting compared to open plots by 94% and 96%, respectively. For a secondary pest, the red-banded leafroller (Argyrotaenia velutinana Walker; Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), moth populations were reduced by 56%. We also found that insecticide application alone did not significantly reduce pest pressure in these species. Additionally, we investigated the subsequent effects of hail netting on fruit quality and yield. The use of hail netting and insecticide application resulted in significantly higher proportions of high-quality fruit at harvest. However, netting did not significantly influence yield. These findings suggest that hail netting can be used to control Midwest apple insect pests with limited insecticide applications while maintaining high fruit quality.
在一些欧洲和北美的苹果（Malus domestica Borkhausen，蔷薇科，蔷薇目）果园中，已经有记录表明，防虫网是控制多种虫害的有效方法。通过减少对杀虫剂的依赖，这些果园降低了成本、对环境和非目标物种的风险，并降低了杀虫剂抗性的风险。本研究在美国明尼苏达州检查了商业上可用的防雹网（DrapeNet®；Prosser，WA）作为一种虫害排除策略的效果。在 2021 年和 2022 年，我们通过监测防虫网和开放小区中害虫的种类，评估了防虫网作为一种防治虫害的工具的效果，这些小区与是否应用杀虫剂交叉。我们的研究结果表明，在明尼苏达州的两种主要害虫，苹果蠹蛾（Cydia pomonella L.；鳞翅目：卷叶蛾科）和苹果实蝇（Rhagoletis pomonella Walsh；双翅目：实蝇科），在防虫网内的数量比开放小区分别显著减少了 94%和 96%。对于次要害虫，红带卷叶蛾（Argyrotaenia velutinana Walker；鳞翅目：卷叶蛾科）的蛾类种群减少了 56%。我们还发现，单独使用杀虫剂并不能显著降低这些物种的害虫压力。此外，我们还研究了防雹网对果实质量和产量的后续影响。使用防雹网和杀虫剂处理导致收获时高质量果实的比例显著提高。然而，防虫网对产量没有显著影响。这些发现表明，防雹网可以用于控制中西部苹果虫害，同时限制杀虫剂的使用，保持高的果实质量。
