Integrated control of damson-hop aphid, Phorodon humuli, on English hops: A review of recent work

Abstract

Damson-hop aphid, Phorodon humuli, is the major insect pest of English hops and has developed marked resistance to many organophosphates (OPs), and lower levels of resistance to other OPs, carbamates and endosulfan used as foliar sprays. Current control methods rest heavily on the systemic OP mephosfolan applied as a soil drench. After the persistent aphidical action of an early-season (May) soil drench of mephosfolan has declined, insect predators, particularly Anthocoris nemoralis and A. nemorum, can usually contribute greatly to control for the remainder of the season, especially within the hop cones. Means of suppressing aphids in July/August with minimum harm to predators are essential for a commercially feasible system of integrated control; possible methods of achieving this are discussed.