Biocontrol of phytophagous mites in Quebec apple orchards

During the 1980s biocontrol of phytophagous mites was based on the mass rearing and inundative releases of predators in orchards. This approach was found to be unreliable and impractical on a large scale. Since 1990 a highly robust grower-friendly philosophy for biocontrol of phytophagous mites in orchards has been initiated, based on the conservation, re-colonization, and augmentation of several naturally occurring predacious mites in the field. The success of this approach is based on a comprehensive understanding of the toxicology of all pesticides used to manage arthropod pests and diseases of apple. This information is relayed by pamphlets to growers who prepare their own pest management programs, with the help of extension agents. A simple technique has also been developed to transfer pruned winter- and summer-wood from a donor orchard where biocontrol of mites has been established to a recipient orchard where biocontrol is in the process of being established.