J. ENTOMOL. SOC. BRIT. COLUMBIA 108, DECEMBER 2011 75

Symposium Abstracts: Grape IPM

Entomological Society of British Columbia Annual General Meeting, Pacific Agri-Food Research Station, Summerland, B.C., Oct. 11-12, 2012

Note: There was a total of eight papers presented in this symposium. We were able to obtain abstracts from six of the authors. Grape pests, including spotted wing significant damage due to increasing numbers drosophila and distribution. Natural control agents— Susanna Acheampong, BC Ministry of parasitoids and pathogens—are being Agriculture, Kelowna, BC considered for control of cutworm larvae. Major and secondary insect pests of grapes Twelve species of parasitoids (Hymenoptera in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, and Diptera) have been reared from field- include leafhoppers, climbing cutworms, collected late-instar larvae, but parasitism wasps, grape phylloxera, mealybugs, thrips, rates are overall very low. Investigation into mites, and earwigs. Monitoring and susceptibility of A. orbis to commercial and management of these insect pests will be field-collected fungal cultures, as well as to a discussed. Results from monitoring and novel indigenous nuclear damage assessment of spotted wing drosophila polyhedrosis virus, is underway. in grapes in the Okanagan in 2011 will also be presented. Spotted wing drosophila adults Grapevine nematode pests in British were caught in apple cider vinegar traps Columbia placed in vineyards during the last week of Tom Forge, Gerry Neilsen, Denise Neilsen, July, with peak numbers occurring in Rosy Smit, and Pat Bowen, Pacific Agri-Food September and October. Spotted wing Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food drosophila flies were reared from only Canada, Summerland, BC damaged wine and table grape varieties Several species of plant-parasitic sampled, not from intact grape samples. In nematodes are recognized to be damaging damaged samples with spotted wing pests of grapevines in most major grape- drosophila and other drosophila species, very growing regions of the world. These include low numbers of spotted wing drosophila were species of root-knot nematodes (primarily found compared to other drosophila species. Meloidogyne incognita and M. arenaria), dagger nematodes (primarily Xiphinema Cutworm species complex and natural index), and root-lesion nematodes (primarily control agents Pratylenchus vulnus). In the Okanagan Valley, Naomi DeLury, and Tom Lowery, Pacific the northern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne Agri-Food Research Centre, Agriculture and hapla, is present but its pathogenicity to Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, BC. grapevine is not as well known as M. A total of 27 species of cutworm incognita and M. arenaria. Dagger nematodes (: ) were collected as in the X. americanum group (X. bricolensis larvae feeding at night on grapevines, sp. and X. pacificum), are widespread in L (Vitaceae), in the Okanagan Valley, British Okanagan vineyards, but they are not Columbia, during April–May, 2004–2012. The considered to be as directly damaging to majority of the population (86.6%) is grapes as X. index is. Species from the X. represented by three species: Abagrotis orbis americanum group can be important as (Grote), A. nefascia (Smith), and A. reedi vectors of tomato ringspot virus, but only X. Buckett. The species complex differs by soil index transmits grapevine fanleaf virus, which type and region, with occasional outbreaks of is among the most damaging of grapevine minor species in specific locations. The virus diseases. Pratylenchus penetrans is also invasive lesser underwing , Noctua widespread in Okanagan vineyards, but its comes (Hübner), has potential to cause pathogenicity relative to P. vulnus is unknown. 76 J. ENTOMOL. SOC. BRIT. COLUMBIA 108, DECEMBER 2011

In 2006, we began recovering ring nematodes Vineyard plant diversity: Relation to insect (Mesocriconema xenoplax) from Okanagan populations vineyards that exhibited patchy, poor growth Olga Shaposhnikova, Pat Bowen, Tom and impaired root systems. Controlled Lowery, and Naomi DeLury, Pacific Agri- inoculation studies in field microplots at the Food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri- Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre– Food Canada, Summerland, BC Summerland indicate that M. xenoplax can Ninety-eight vineyards in the Okanagan significantly reduce growth (trunk diameter, and Similkameen valleys in south-central pruning weights, and root biomass) over three British Columbia were included in a study of years of self-rooted Merlot. The nematode vegetation within and surrounding vineyards also reduced trunk growth of Merlot on 3309C as a component of terroir. Plant species rootstock, but Merlot on 44-53 and Riparia diversity was evaluated three times at the Gloire rootstocks appeared to be tolerant to vineyard sites during the 2011 growing the nematode. Similar microplot research to season. Attention was paid to broadleaf evaluate the pathogenicity of P. penetrans flowering plants used as cover crops, as these under British Columbia growing conditions is can potentially serve as habitats for beneficial warranted, as is additional research to extend . Grapevine-leaf samples were collected knowledge of the distribution and impacts of during the second and third visits to determine M. xenoplax on different rootstocks. populations of beneficial insects and pests. Fourteen sites were selected for study of Anagrus parasitoids of leafhopper eggs on native plant communities. These were suitable grapevines for vineyard development, but were Tom Lowery, Pacific Agri-Food Research undeveloped and contained representative Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, native local ecosystems. Hypothetically, Summerland, BC inclusion of plants inherent in natural There are at least 10 known instances of ecosystems as vineyard residents can help to Anagrus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) egg integrate the native and vineyard landscapes, parasites successfully imported for the control and increase vineyard ecosystem stability by of leafhopper pests in various countries. In balancing it with the natural environment. The British Columbia, they are important for the natural and vineyard study sites were mapped, control of Virginia creeper leafhopper, and a database was created using Geographic Erythroneura ziczac, and western grape Information System tools. It was found that, at leafhopper, E. elegantula. Their parasitism the majority of vineyard sites where rates in certain locations near riparian areas populations of beneficial insects were reach nearly 100% late in the season. Our recorded, at least 10% of the ground-cover research has shown that their activity is crops comprised broadleaf plants at early and limited by a lack of suitable overwintering mid-season. About 60% of these sites were hosts and that they are sensitive to chemical located in close proximity to the natural areas. sprays. Until recently, the and host It was observed that ground-cover crop relationships of Anagrus species that use eggs composition at some study sites changed of leafhoppers on grapes was poorly studied. considerably during the season, depending on A single species, Anagrus epos, was thought management practices. Some management to parasitize both E. ziczac and E. elegantula, practices apparently prevented formation of but it is now understood that one species, A. stable habitats for beneficial insects. Plant daanei, uses eggs of the former and a different species diversity in the vineyards was low, species, A. erythroneurae, parasitizes the consisting of a maximum of two to three latter. A survey is being conducted to introduced species that were evenly determine if a third species, A. tretiakovae, distributed. In comparison, the natural sites that parasitizes eggs of both species has had a minimum of five plant species observed arrived in the province from Washington later in the season. We found higher State, or if it can be imported from its native populations of some beneficial insects when range in eastern North America. broadleaf flowering plants are resident in vineyard ground-cover crop and when the grapevines are located near natural areas. J. ENTOMOL. SOC. BRIT. COLUMBIA 108, DECEMBER 2011 77

Grape-insect toxicology tolerance among the species to currently Mike Smirle, Cheryl Zurowski, Marissa registered active ingredients Neuner, and Tom Lowery, Pacific Agri-Food chlorantraniliprole and permethrin illustrates Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food the importance of correct identification of the Canada, Summerland, BC species complex present in different locations. The effects of natural and synthetic The second set of experiments examined the materials on two insect pests of grapes, effects of essential oils on the Virginia creeper cutworms (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and leafhopper, Erythroneura ziczac. These studies leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), are are an example of experiments that assess discussed. In all of these studies assessing the behavioral responses, not mortality, resulting effects of toxicants, the importance of dose from exposure to toxicants. In this case, response was stressed (Paracelsus: “The dose repellency was measured using leaf-disc makes the poison”). In the first set of studies, choice tests on third-instar nymphs. Of the 11 insecticides were tested for efficacy on fourth- oils tested, four repelled leafhopper nymphs instar larvae of three species of cutworms that (paraffin oil, canola oil, mustard seed oil, and have become serious pests in British lemon oil), whereas tea tree oil and citronella Columbia vineyards: Abagrotis orbis, A. oil repelled nymphs at high concentrations but nefascia, and A. reedi. There was considerable attracted them at low concentrations. Five variation in response to these insecticides materials had no significant effect (eucalyptus (chlorantraniliprole [rynaxypyr], permethrin, oil, peppermint oil, rice bran oil, cedarwood methoxyfenozide, spinetoram, spinosad, oil, and garlic juice). Essential oils may be malathion, carbaryl, and Bacillus useful in reducing leafhopper feeding if thuringiensis), both within and among the appropriate formulations can be developed three species. Significant differences in and effective usage patterns determined. Presentation Abstracts

Entomological Society of British Columbia Annual General Meeting, Pacific Agri-Food Research Station, Summerland, B.C., Oct. 11-12, 2012

Current insect pest issues in the Southern both the larval and adult stages, and often Interior of British Columbia display low developmental temperature Susanna Acheampong, BC Ministry of thresholds. Both of these characteristics confer Agriculture, Kelowna, BC advantages regarding the use of brown Insect pests of concern in 2012 on stone lacewings for biological control. Here, we fruit and vegetable crops and their present results of a greenhouse cage management will be discussed. Pest species experiment where the brown lacewing, include San Jose scale, Quadraspidiotus Micromus variegatus, was released alone and perniciosus; apple leaf curling midge, simultaneously with the parasitoid, Aphidius Dasineura mali; woolly apple aphid, matricariae, for management of the green Eriosoma lanigerum; onion maggot, Delia aphid, Myzus persicae. Antigua; and, garlic bulb mites. Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae): From Micromus variegatus: a new biological the greenhouse to the lab, a new pest on control agent for aphids on greenhouse lavender, Lavendula pinnata, and in peppers coriander, Coriandrum sativa, tissue culture Rob McGregor, and Jordan Bannerman, Lauren Erland, Naomi DeLury, and Soheil Douglas College, New Westminster, BC Mahmoud, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Brown lacewings (Neuroptera: Summerland BC Hemerobiidae) have rarely been used in Thrips are a common phytophagous pest augmentative biological control programs. with a significant economic impact. Adults Hemerobiids feed voraciously on aphids in and nymphs were found on lavender, a plant