Attractants for green lacewings in Washington orchards

Field experiments to determine the attraction of lacewings to methyl salicylate (MeSa) and other attractants in apple and pear were conducted in Orondo, Wenatchee, and Peshastin, Washington in 2008 and 2009. At each of the three experimental blocks, sets of yellow sticky traps were established in transects and baited with either a plant extract, or an oil, or methyl salicylate, or a combination of two attractants, or no attractants. Traps were established in May and monitored weekly through August. Attractants were changed and locations were re-randomized weekly.

Methyl salicylate and two other attractants tested were effective attractants in the two crop types. A combination lure including methyl salicylate caught significantly more lacewings than either individual attractant. All attractants were significantly attractive to Chrysopa nigricornis Burmeister and Chrysoperla plorabunda Fitch in pear and apple, but overall densities captured were much lower in apple