S14 - Session P1- A quick and easy-to-apply monitoring strategy is the key to success for IPM in berry fruit

Authors: Tim Belien, Femke De Vis *, Dany Bylemans

Today, in the integrated and organic cultivation of berry fruit, biological control agents (predatory mites, parasitic wasps, lacewings, predatory bugs,...) are used to naturally suppress and control pests. However, often with varying degrees of success. Due to a lack of regular crop inspection and monitoring, many growers do not have insight into the presence and evolution of pests and beneficials in their crops. Important pests such as aphids, spider mites, thrips, white fly and D. suzukii regularly cause serious problems in berry fruit. A fast monitoring technique was developed that can easily be applied in the field via a mobile device. A limited number of random spots per ha are monitored and scored for pests and natural enemies. For each spot the highest score per pest and natural enemy is registered. Thanks to the weekly observation results, the evolution of the different pests and natural enemies and their mutual balance is mapped via clear graphs that are automatically generated. Moreover, insight is gained into economic damage thresholds, the ideal moment for the introduction of natural enemies or corrective spraying with crop protection products.