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Apple Mealybug
Apple mealybug is the vector of the virus that causes little
cherry disease in sweet cherry. On apples, high populations can produce
honeydew, which drips onto fruit and causes russet and sooty mold growth. It
does not damage cherry except for transmitting the little cherry virus. Adult
mealybugs appear as small white powdery patches in bark crevices, pruning
scars, and in the crotches of small twigs.
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Apple mealy bug |
Control
The following sprays are recommended to control the apple mealybug in cherry
orchards where little cherry disease has been found, or in areas where little
cherry disease is known to occur. Also refer to the Tree
Fruit Production Guide and the product labels for information on application
rates and safety precautions for using the insecticides listed below.
- Dormant: Apply oil plus diazinon. This spray controls over-wintering
nymphs. Use high volume application techniques as recommended for San Jose
scale control.
- Petal-Fall: Admire, Diazinon, Guthion, or Sniper used at this stage are
effective against mealybugs. High volume airblast or hand gun applications
are the most effective.
- Summer: The major period of mealybug movement from tree to tree is during
the summer when nymphs are on leaves and can be transported by wind. Nymphs
are also the easiest to kill with chemicals. Low volume air blast sprays of
Admire, Cygon, Lagon, Guthion, Sniper or Diazinon applied for control of
cherry fruit fly are also effective for the control of apple mealybug nymphs.
The closer to harvest these materials are applied, taking the minimum days
before harvest into account, the more effective is the mealybug control.
- Post Harvest: A post harvest spray of diazinon is the most effective
control of nymphs on leaves, but Admire and Cygon or Lagon applied for cherry
fruit fly will also provide adequate control.
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Apple mealybug, Creston BC |
February 2004
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