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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #138851
Title: ARTHROPODS PRESENT ON REMOVED FOLIAGE FROM AN APPLE PACKING LINE

Author
item HANSEN, JAMES D
item LEWIS, LAURA - WSU
item SIMMONS, GILBERT - CLOVIS, CA

Submitted to: Southwest Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/10/2003
Publication Date: 9/25/2003
Citation: Hansen, J.D., Lewis, L.R., Simmons, G.F. 2003. Arthropods present on removed foliage from an apple packing line. Southwest Entomology. 28:205-210.

Interpretive Summary: Because expanded world trade has increased the opportunities for the introduction of exotic arthropod pests, there is a concern that foliage with packed fruit may include these pests. Washington state is a major exporter of fresh apples, yet only Mexico limits the amount of foliage with the packed fruit. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine discarded leaf material at various points along a commercial apple packing line. The number of arthropods on leaves decreased with each step, resulting with only one predator mite found with the final pack. Hence, this study suggested that foliage in packed fruits are unlikely pathway for introducing arthropod pests.

Technical Abstract: The effectiveness of packing house operations in removing arthropods on leaves was evaluated by surveying four apple cultivars, Malus domestic Borkh., from 17 grower lots over six months of inspection. Discarded leaves were collected from ten sampling stations along the packing line and were observed under a 30x microscope. The numbers and viability of specific arthropods were recorded. Among the 6,400 leaves inspected, damage from the western tentiform leafminer, Phyllonorycter elmaella Doganlar & Mutuura (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) was seen in 63% of the leaves. Twospotted spider mites, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Arari: Phytoseiidae), (found on 62 leaves) and predatory mites, Typhlodromus spp. (Acari: Phytoseiidae), (found on 34 leaves) were the most frequent living arthropods. Six other live arthropods (three parasitic wasps, a psocid, an aphid, and a spider) were also observed. Only one live arthropod, a predator mite, was found at the final pack sampling station. The numbers of arthropods decreased with fruit processing along the packing line. Data from this study indicates that foliage packed in with fruits is not a likely pathaway for spreading live arthropods.