The Bionomics and Monitoring of Campylomma Verbasci (Meyer) on Apple in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
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THE BIONOMICS AND MONITORING OF CAMPYLOMMA VERBASCI (MEYER)ON APPLE IN THE OKANAGAN VALLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA Howard Michael Andrew Thistlewood B.Sc.(Hons.), University of Southampton, 1977 M.P.M., Simon Fraser University, 1979 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in the Department of Biological Sciences 0 Howard Michael Andrew Thistlewood 1986 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY January 1986 All rights reserved. This thesis may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. Approval Name : Howard Michael Andrew Thistlewood Degree : Doctor of Philosophy Title of Thesis: The bionomics and monitoring of Campylomma verbasci (Meyer) on apple in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia Examining Committee:\ Chairman : Dr. b.H. Borden, Senior Supervisor Dr. R.D. McMullen, Adjunct Professor and Researc' " ' tist " A Dr. .B. E. ,'Rbitber.g,Assistant Professor I - Dr. &i.:D..- raze-. , Research Scieztist , Agr.iculture ~anada,Public Examiner - -- Dr. R. F. Shephe$d, ~;search Scientist, Pacific Foresp Centre, Public Examiner Dr. R.K. Stewart, Dept. of Entomology, MacDonald College, McGill University, External Examiner PARTIAL COPYRIGHT LICENSE I hereby grant to Slmon Fraser Unlverslty the right to lend my thesis, proJect or extended essay (the title of which is shown below) to users of the Simon Fraser University Library, and to make partial or single copies only for such users or in response to a request from the library of any other university, or other educational institution, on its own behalf or for one of its users. I further agree that permission for multiple copying of this work for scholarly purposes may be granted by me or the Dean of Graduate Studies. It is understood that copying or publication of this work for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. T it Ie of Thes i s/Project/Extended Essay The bionomics and monitoring of Campylonana verbaeci (Meyer) on apple in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia L Howard Michael Andrew Thietlewood (date) V iii ABSTRACT Campylomma verbasci (Meyer) is a serious but intermittent pest of apples in British Columbia. The objective of this study was to develop reliable monitoring methods through investigation of its biology, damage and behaviour. Observations were made and experiments conducted in 17 orchards in the Okanagan Valley during 1982-1984. The overwintering hosts were apple and pear; 3-4 generationslyear were foufid on apple and several summer hosts, primarily common mullein, Verbascum thapsus L. Population levels and damage by -C. verbasci in 1983 were correlated with the density of mullein in 9 orchards in 1982. However, this result was not confirmed in 4 experimental plots in 1983-1984. First generation nymphs damaged >1% of the apples in 17 of 40 samples of 4 major varieties, in commercial orchards, and -C. verbasci was among the top 3 pests in 22 samples. Economic injury levels of 1 and 4 nymphs/tap are proposed for Golden Delicious and Red Delicious varieties, respectively. Limb-tap sampling was 1.9-5.3 times more efficient than cluster sampling in determining nymphal density at economic levels, and its estimates were not affected by temporal, spatial, or varietal factors within orchards. However, sampling prior to the peak of emergence, on average 11 days after full bloom, can give inaccurate estimates of nymphal density and damage. Similarly, an overwintering 'hatching' sample method, developed in Nova Scotia, did not predict nymphal density or damage. The spatial dispersion of -C. verbasci on apple was contagious and was described using Iwao's regression and Taylor' s power law methods. Optimal sample sizes of 47, 29 and 19 taps10.5 ha were calculated for densities of 1, 2, and 4 nymphsltap, respectively. A constant-precision level sequential count plan and a sequential decision plan were developed to reduce sampling to )=5 taps10.5 ha- Field experiments revealed significant responses by males to females, female extracts and captured volatiles, demonstrating the presence of a sex pheromone, and showed that trap colour or shape had significant effects upon the catch of both sexes. These responses could be exploited in monitoring adult numbers late in the season, to provide forecasts of damaging levels in orchards the following year. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I deeply appreciate the guidance of Dr. J.H. Borden throughout the research and writing of this thesis, and thank Drs. R.D. McMullen and B.D. Roitberg for their advice and helpful reviews of the manuscript. Many useful discussions were also held with R.C. Corcoran, J.M. Vakenti and Dr. H.F. Madsen. Specialised equipment and assistance provided by the following people is gratefully acknowledged: R. Fryer, T.C. Hubscher and C. A. Spinney in summer field work; Drs. J.W. Hall and R.D. Routledge for answering many statistical questions; G.A. Wardle, Dr. A.P. Gaunce, and Dr. H.D. Pierce, Jr., for supplying equipment and advice on the collection of insect volatiles; D.W .A. Hunt and D.R. Miller for advice on the preparation of insect extracts; Dr. C.J. Walters for microcomputer software; G.J.R. Judd for measuring the % reflectance of coloured cards and Y. Poitras for information on paints; and J.M. and M.E. Neary for photocopying many articles on -C. verbasci from sources in Nova Scotia. Field facilities, office space and experimental sites were provided in Summerland by the Centre for Pest Management, Simon Fraser University, and the Research Branch of Agriculture Canada. I thank the Director and the staff of the Research Station for their assistance, particularly K.H. Neer of the Libraries Division. The research was funded by an NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship, a B.C. Science Council G.R.E.A.T. award, educational leave from Agriculture Canada, and NSERC Operating and Strategic Grants to Drs. J.H. Borden, A.C. Oehlschlager, and K.N. Slessor. I appreciate the' cooperation of many people in the fruit industry, particularly the growers who permitted research in their orchards. Above all, I thank my wife, Tina, for her understanding and support throughout my studies. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page APPROVAL .......................................................... ii ABSTRACT .......................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................. vi i LIST OF TABLES .................................................... xiii LIST OF FIGURES ................................................... xix I. INTRODUCTION ................................................ 11. LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................... Taxonomy ................................................. Zoogeography ............................................. Biology .................................................. Overwintering habit ................................... Development ........................................... Summer generations .................................... Diet .................................................. Economic Status .......................................... A world perspective ................................... History in Canada ..................................... 111. THE SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF CAMPYLOMMA VERBASCI IN AND AROUND APPLE ORCHARDS OF THE OKANAGAN VALLEY ...................................................... Introduction ............................................. viii Materials and Methods .................................... Weather during the study .............................. Description of study sites ............................ Alternate host studies ................................ Sampling methods within orchards ...................... Sampling methods outside orchards ..................... Results and Discussion ................................... Occurrence in apple orchards .......................... Occurrence outside apple orchards ..................... Overwintering generation .............................. Seasonal development .................................. Differences between years ............................. Association with pesticides ........................... THE DISTRIBUTION OF CAMPYLOMMA VERBASCI NYMPHS ON APPLE IN THE OKANAGAN VALLEY AND ITS IMPORTANCE FOR SAMPLING ......... Introduction ............................................. Materials and Methods .................................... Distribution within trees ............................. Distribution between trees ............................ Comparison of sampling methods ........................ Data analysis ......................................... Results and Discussion ................................... Distribution within trees ............................. Distribution between trees ............................ Accuracy of sampling .................................. Reliability of sampling ................................ Timing of sampling .................................... 57 Cost of sampling ...................................... 58 Efficiency of sampling ................................ 59 V . DAMAGE AND ECONOMIC INJURY LEVELS OF CAMPYLOMMA VERBASCI ON APPLE IN THE OKANAGAN VALLEY ................................ 62 Introduction ............................................. 62 Materials and Methods .................................... 64 Identification of damage .............................. a 64 Harvest sample .......................................