This project was designed to further study and evaluate the effectiveness of the use of insect lure traps and mechanical traps as a tool in determining the need and timing of insect control measures in commercial apple production. Three traps for each insect pest were located at strategic locations in each orchard. Fruit growers were trained prior to the start of the growing season on target insect identification, trap construction and management.
Cooperators read the traps and replaced lures as needed.
Weekly field reports of trap findings were mailed to the Ohio State University Entomology Extension Office. Findings assisted the ICM Newsletter staff in alerting growers to potential peaks in insect pressure. Findings were shared through the state-wide Newsletter as well as shared during regional field meetings held during the 1993 growing season by the authors. Growers were conveyed information on degree day accumulation supplied for various communities by the Ohio Agricultural Statistics Service. Many growers compiled their own degree day information through reporting from weather band radios.