LE3 .A278 2015

2014

Blatt, Suzanne

Acadia University

Master of Science

Masters

Biology

Biology

European apple sawfly Hoplocampa testudinea (Klug) and apple maggot fly Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) are economically important insect pests. Losses to apple crops caused by these insects’ damage can negatively affect growers and sustainability of crops. Eleven commercial and experimental apple cultivars were studied to examine preferences that apple sawfly and apple maggot fly exhibited among host plants. Preference among host plant cultivars and the mechanisms informing these preferences were determined via field surveys of adult visitation and larval infestation of apples, behavioural bioassays, and electrophysiological tests. Significant differences in visitation and infestation of hosts were observed by apple sawfly and apple maggot fly in each year of study. Apple sawfly preferred Zestar!, s23-06-153 and Pinova for visitation and oviposition, whereas apple maggot fly preferred Silken, Pinova and Zestar! for adult visitation and infestation. Observed cultivar preferences in each insect were supported via the results of Y-tube bioassays and through observations of olfactory insect responses via electroantennography and calcium imaging.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:355