Pests of apple fruits in Ukraine

Abstract

The apple tree has been known to mankind for over 5 thousand years. It is grown in more than 80 countries around the world, and the total area of apple plantations in the world reaches 6 million hectares. In Ukraine, the apple tree occupies 45 % of the area of all fruit and berry crops. In 2023, almost 1.2 million tons of apples were harvested in our country, with an average yield of 15.5 t/ha. One of the important measures to ensure yield, improve product quality, and ensure long-term productivity of perennial plantations is the integrated protection of fruit and berry crops from pests and diseases. To establish the dominant species of apple fruit pests and their economic significance, we analyzed 35 domestic and foreign information sources on the harmful entomological complex of apple agrocenoses. The main ecological and economic group of the garden agrocenoses are insects that directly damage the fruits. They disrupt the flow of nutrients to the seeds, damaged fruits fall off. Among the harmful species of insects that damage fruits, which significantly affect the quantity and quality of fruits. The apple fruit borer – Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus, 1758) from the order Lepidoptera and the family Tortricidae – is a dangerous pest that damages apple, pear, less often plum, apricot, quince, peach and walnut. In Ukraine, it is widespread. The apple fruit sawfly Hoplocampa testudinea (Klug, 1816) from the order Hymenoptera and the family Tenthredinidae. Currently, the apple fruit sawfly has become widespread. To protect apple fruits from major pests, a number of agrotechnical measures and spraying with permitted insecticides based on such active ingredients as deltamethrin, alpha-cypermethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, chlorantraniliprole, imidacloprid, acetamiprid, teflubenzuron, and emamectin benzoate are recommended.