Effects of Broad-Spectrum Insecticides on Epigeal Arthropod Biodiversity in Pacific Northwest Apple Orchards

Analyses of pitfall traps in Washington and Oregon apple orchards revealed that highly mobile invertebrates were strongly susceptible to applications of broad-spectrum, neural-active insecticides. When compared with orchard blocks managed without broad-spectrum insecticides, orchard blocks under con...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental entomology 2000, Vol.29 (2), p.340-348
Main Authors: Epstein, D. L, Zack, R. S, Brunner, J. F, Gut, L, Brown, J. J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adverse effects
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Aranae
Araneae
biodiversity
Biological and medical sciences
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
biological control agents
Carabidae
carbaryl
Chilopoda
Control
Dermaptera
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates
Forficulidae
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
guthion
insecticides
Integrated pest control
lorsban
Malus domestica
natural enemies
nontarget effects
nontarget organisms
Opiliones
orchards
parathion-methyl
Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection
population density
predators
predators of insect pests
predatory arthropods
Protozoa. Invertebrates
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Summary:Analyses of pitfall traps in Washington and Oregon apple orchards revealed that highly mobile invertebrates were strongly susceptible to applications of broad-spectrum, neural-active insecticides. When compared with orchard blocks managed without broad-spectrum insecticides, orchard blocks under conventionally managed regimes had significantly lower populations of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), centipedes (Chilopoda), earwigs (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), harvestmen (Opiliones), and spiders (Aranae). The carabid species Pterostichus adstrictus Eschscholtz and P. melanarius Illiger constituted 89% of all ground beetles collected over 2 growing seasons. Three times as many free-hunting spiders were found in the no broad-spectrum blocks than in the conventional blocks. Less mobile invertebrates such as mites, slugs, and snails appeared to be less affected by the different management strategies. Ground beetles, spiders, harvestmen, earwigs, and centipedes are all probable predators of lepidopteran and homopteran pests of apple.
ISSN:0046-225X
1938-2936
DOI:10.1603/0046-225X%282000%29029%5B0340%3AEOBSIO%5D2.0.CO%3B2