Experiences with autumn and early spring control of black cherry aphid on sweet cherry

Abstract: The black cherry aphid (BCA) Myzus cerasi (Fabricius) is a main pest in cherry.
Generally, BCA is controlled by insecticides before and after flowering, the latter mainly with
systemic active ingredients. Though, alternative application times also show opportunities for
controlling the black cherry aphid by contact action, which is generally the case in organic
cultivation.
In this study alternative timings and IPM strategies for BCA control were tested. For this
purpose, several field trials were carried out, in which timing of treatments was supported by
intensive monitoring of the spring and autumn aphid populations. In early spring, paraffin oil
can reduce the population of BCA to zero, though, the effect is significantly affected by
application time and spraying coverage (e. g., wind, water volume, spray technique). In autumn when aphids are less hidden in curled leaves, targeting BCA before, during or after backmigration into the cherry trees, but before egg laying, reached high levels of efficacy by
application of non-systemic active ingredients. The choice of the timing is related to the specific characteristics of the test product. A well-positioned combination of autumn and early spring applications can keep black cherry aphid pressure low throughout the season.