Apple Integrated Pest Management Program

The IPM program can be implemented by spraying pesticides using either complete or alternate row middle (ARM) sprays. If using ARM sprays, do not stretch intervals between half-sprays unless pest pressure is low. Also, for ARM sprays to be effective for insect and disease control: (1) Use a sprayer capable of partial coverage of the nonsprayed side of each tree row. Sprayers with less than 90,000 cfm and 180 psi are not likely to be successful in this program unless trees are not more than 12 feet high or the rows 25 feet apart. Intermediate airflow sprayers can be used when they are properly matched with the tree size to be sprayed. (2) Be aware of the small black ladybird beetle, Stethorus punctum, and the predatory mites Typhlodromus pyri, Neoseiulus fallacis, and Zetzellia mali, for biological control of the European red mite; regular mite and Stethorus counts are needed. (3) Adjust the interval between half-sprays as pest pressures increase or decrease.

The advantages of reduced pesticide and integrated pest management programs are: (1) less pesticide is used, (2) time and orchard equipment are managed more efficiently, (3) predators are used in mite control, (4) populations of other parasites and predators may increase, and (5) chances decrease that pests will develop resistance to pesticides. If scab, powdery mildew, and other diseases were present the previous year, or if weather conditions become favorable for disease outbreaks, shorten spray intervals and increase rates.



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