Project Number: 1931-21000-015-03
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Jul 01, 2003
End Date: Dec 31, 2007

Objective:
Determine the relative attractiveness of extrafloral nectar from different peach cultivars and the effects on natural enemy life history and biological control efficiency. Determine the effect of extrafloral nectary resources on natural enemy abundance and biological control on apple trees. Determine the spatial dynamics and distance at which extrafloral nectaries affect natural enemy effectiveness, and develop prototypical orchard designs for implementing natural enemy management practices in commercial orchards.

Approach:
Extrafloral nectar from peach leaves will be collected and tested for attractiveness to natural enemies with a gas-chromatography and electro-antennal detection system. Nectar will also be provided as diet to natural enemies to investigate nutritive qualities of the nectar. Field cage and orchard studies will be done to examine the effect of nectar sources on biological control of insect pests on apple. Both abundance of natural enemies and the number of pests killed will be used to evaluate the impact of nectar.