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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #370047
Research Project: New Tools for Managing Key Pests of Pecan and Peach

Location: Fruit and Tree Nut Research

Title: Lady beetles, pecan orchards and ground covers

Author
item Cottrell, Ted

Submitted to: Pecan South
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/6/2019
Publication Date: 12/1/2019
Citation: Cottrell, T.E. 2019. Lady beetles, pecan orchards and ground covers. Pecan South. 52(10)6-13.

Interpretive Summary: Lady beetles are commonly found in pecan orchards, especially on orchard floor ground covers. Most of those species found on ground covers (sevenspotted lady beetle, convergent lady beetle, spotted lady beetle, polished lady beetle and Scymnus spp.) in pecan orchards are of little benefit to pest management in the pecan canopy. Trapping lady beetles in pecan orchards shows that most species prefer to remain low to the ground and do not inhabit the pecan canopy where pecan aphids occur. One species, the ashy gray lady beetle, does prefer the pecan canopy but facilitating its population through ground covers is not likely. However, the exotic multicolored Asian lady beetle was found to occur at all vertical strata in pecan orchards. This species is likely to be positively influenced by orchard floor ground covers and by habitats surrounding pecan orchards.

Technical Abstract: Many species of lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) are commonly found in pecan orchards, especially on orchard floor ground covers. Most of those species found on ground covers (Coccinella septempunctata, Hippodamia convergens, Coleomegilla maculata, Cycloneda munda, and Scymnus spp.) in pecan orchards are of little benefit to pest management in the pecan canopy. Trapping lady beetles in pecan orchards shows that most species prefer to remain low to the ground and do not inhabit the pecan canopy where the three species of pecan aphids occur. One lady beetle species, Olla v-nigrum, does prefer the pecan canopy but facilitating its population through ground covers is not likely. However, Harmonia axyridis was found to occur at all vertical strata in pecan orchards. This species is likely to be positively influenced by orchard floor ground covers and by habitats surrounding pecan orchards.