Speakers - AFHWC2025

Abstract

The woolly apple aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum) is a significant pest for apple trees, affecting both roots and shoots and making it challenging to control in orchards worldwide. This pest not only damages apple trees physically but also reduce their productivity and quality. Recent studies have examined alternative control methods, especially with a focus on natural compounds and botanicals that can serve as eco-friendly solutions, addressing the limitations of traditional chemical treatments.
Several studies have explored the use of flavonoids—such as quercetin dihydrate, rutin hydrate, and naringin—due to their potential insecticidal effects on woolly apple aphids. These natural compounds, used at various concentrations, demonstrated significant mortality rates for aphid nymphs and adults, though efficacy varied depending on the concentration and exposure duration. At higher concentrations (e.g., 10,000 ppm), these flavonoids achieved mortality rates comparable to imidacloprid, a widely used synthetic insecticide, especially after a 72-hour period. However, one advantage of flavonoid use is its reduced impact on non-target organisms like Aphelinus mali, a natural parasitoid of the woolly apple aphid, as opposed to more conventional insecticides that may harm beneficial insects crucial to ecological balance.
Essential oils from plants such as Achillea santolina, Artemisia seiberi, and Salvia officinalis have also shown promise in aphid management. The oils exhibited insecticidal activity, with efficacy varying based on the plant source and concentration. For instance, Artemisia seiberi oil achieved mortality rates of 61–78% at 1000 ppm concentrations. Additionally, a lower LT50 (time required to kill 50% of the aphid population) was observed, suggesting that these oils can act quickly against woolly apple aphids.
The exploration of these alternative treatments highlights a promising shift towards sustainable pest management methods that could reduce reliance on chemical insecticides, thereby mitigating risks associated with pesticide resistance, environmental contamination, and non-target species harm. By incorporating botanical insecticides and plant-derived essential oils into integrated pest management (IPM) programs, apple producers could better manage woolly apple aphid populations, enhancing both yield and environmental outcomes.