Occurrence of Natural Enemies of Codling Moth (Cydiapomonella) in Apple Orchards in Kuchlak, Quetta, Balochistan

Abstract

Codling moth (Cydia pomonella) is the key pest of apple in Balochistan. Natural enemies play a vital role in the regulation of codling moth. This study aimed to monitor the occurrence of natural enemies of codling moth in different apple orchards and fruit infestation by its larvae. Four apple orchards (red delicious-RD, golden delicious-GD, mixed plantation-KRG, KRG (Te)-release of Trichograma evanescens) were selected. Sampling from selected 10 trees was carried out from April to September during 2018 and the data were analyzed through descriptive statistics. The soil surface predators were collected by pitfall trap, other predators and codling moth larvae by corrugate paper fixed around the tree, and parasitic wasps by the yellow sticky trap. The data showed that out of the four orchards, the KRG (Te) presented a higher percent occurrence of parasitic wasps by 61.54% Diplazon sp., 62.14% Dibrachys microgastri, 54.55% Elasmus.sp.nr.johnstoni, and 22.2% Trichograma evanescens respectively. The total parasitized codling moth larvae collected in the band trap was 818 representing 28.36% CM larvae parasitized by Diplazon sp., 49.76% by Dibrachys microgastri, and 21.88% by Elasmus.sp.nr.johnstoni. While, majority of predators of codling moth were found in KRG (Te) orchard but some predators like carabid beetle, earwig, and green lacewings have shown pesticides tolerance as indicated by their occurrence in RD, GD, and KRG orchards. The release of Trichograma sp. in one orchard with a spray of emamectin benzoate recorded apple fruit damage by 11.0% that might be reduced by using selective pesticides