Implementing biological control of Lygus lineolaris in strawberries in Ontario, Canada

Bruce A. Broadbent¹, G. Peter Mason², and Tim Haye³

¹Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London, Ontario, Canada

²Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

³CABI Europe Switzerland, Delemont, Switzerland

Correspondence: broadbentb@agr.gc.ca

The populations of Lygus lineolaris adults and nymphs and levels of native larval parasitism were measured weekly at 6 strawberry farms in Ontario during the summer of 2006, as part of the first year of a project to introduce Peristenus digoneutis to the management of Lygus in strawberries. At farms with pesticide inputs, Lygus levels were very low on strawberries, but were detected at higher levels on adjacent alfalfa fields and weedy borders. Larval parasitism was found to be between 5–20% at these latter sites, with occasional levels of 30–40% parasitism on some collection dates. In the summers of 2007 and 2008 we intend to intensively sample 3 non-sprayed strawberry farms having both alfalfa trap crops and releases of Peristenus digoneutis at peak N2 levels of Lygus in May and July. Biological control agents are expected to contribute to the long-term reduction of Lygus populations in the region and are not seen as a short-term solution.

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