The use of flowering companion plantings to enhance biological control is becoming more common in organic and conventional farming systems. We evaluated fifteen flowering annual plants in two, 100 sq. m plots with sampling replicated through time. During full bloom, yellow traps with soapy water were used to collect parasitic Hymenoptera. Timed observations of 0.25 sq. m subplots were also used to record visitation by beneficial and potential pest insects to the floral resources. Sentinel larvae of tortricid apple pests were used to monitor parasitism rates for each of the flowering plant species. Comparative attractiveness, parasitism rates and phenological compatibility for each species will be used to select the best flowers for enhancing biological control in apple and peach orchards in the mid-Atlantic fruit-growing region.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Tortricidae Cydia pomonella (codling moth)
Species 2: Lepidoptera Tortricidae Platynota idaeusalis (tufted apple budmoth)
Keywords: apple, companion plants
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA