Winter treatments against the woolly apple aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum): products and timing of applications

In organic apple growing the woolly apple aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum) is still an unsolved problem. Various approaches to use beneficial insects were not really effective. Only winter treatments with mineral oils showed partial and fluctuating success. In 2006 and 2007 field trials were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of winter treatments to control woolly apple aphids. The efficacy of several products (different mineral oils, lime sulphur, and lime sulphur + mineral oil) was tested in comparison to an untreated control, and possible side effects on the population of predatory mites were investigated. The study furthermore aimed at establishing the best timing of the application against the target pest