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Review
. 2024;97(3):1203-1226.
doi: 10.1007/s10340-024-01772-3. Epub 2024 Apr 2.

A whole ecosystem approach to pear psyllid (Cacopsylla pyri) management in a changing climate

Laura A Reeves  1 , Michael P D Garratt  1 , Michelle T Fountain  2 , Deepa Senapathi  1
Affiliations
Review

A whole ecosystem approach to pear psyllid (Cacopsylla pyri) management in a changing climate

Laura A Reeves et al. J Pest Sci (2004). 2024.

Abstract

Whole ecosystem-based approaches are becoming increasingly common in pest management within agricultural systems. These strategies consider all trophic levels and abiotic processes within an ecosystem, including interactions between different factors. This review outlines a whole ecosystem approach to the integrated pest management of pear psyllid (Cacopsylla pyri Linnaeus) within pear (Pyrus communis L.) orchards, focusing on potential disruptions as a result of climate change. Pear psyllid is estimated to cost the UK pear industry £5 million per annum and has a significant economic impact on pear production globally. Pesticide resistance is well documented in psyllids, leading to many growers to rely on biological control using natural enemies during the summer months. In addition, multiple insecticides commonly used in pear psyllid control have been withdrawn from the UK and Europe, emphasising the need for alternative control methods. There is growing concern that climate change could alter trophic interactions and phenological events within agroecosystems. For example, warmer temperatures could lead to earlier pear flowering and pest emergence, as well as faster insect development rates and altered activity levels. If climate change impacts pear psyllid differently to natural enemies, then trophic mismatches could occur, impacting pest populations. This review aims to evaluate current strategies used in C. pyri management, discuss trophic interactions within this agroecosystem and highlight potential changes in the top-down and bottom-up control of C. pyri as a result of climate change. This review provides a recommended approach to pear psyllid management, identifies evidence gaps and outlines areas of future research.

Keywords: IPM; Natural enemies; Orchards; Phenological mismatches; Trophic interactions.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing interests.Conflict of interestsAuthors have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Diagram outlining bottom-up and top-down control within a pear agroecosystem and the potential interaction with weather variables, with respect to climate change. With pear trees as the primary producer (Pyrus communis), pear psylla (Cacopsylla pyri) as the primary consumer and natural enemies (including Anthocoris nemoralis) as secondary consumers
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The timing of key life stages for Cacopsylla pyri (eggs, nymphs and adults) and its natural enemies (anthocorids, earwigs and ladybirds) in Julian days. Events include first observation in the orchard, average first peak abundance date, average second peak abundance date and last observation in the orchard. Data were collected from 17 different pear orchards in Kent, UK from 2012–2022, based on AHDB TF233 records. The dots represent the average time the event took place, lines represent standard deviation and the light blue rectangle is the average spread of flowering time for conference pear (Pyrus communis L.)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The inputs and outputs within a pear orchard that constitute pest management. Inputs include biological control, chemical sprays, biorational compounds and cultural control. Outputs are the data that growers, agronomists and researchers collect which go back into the system to optimise the timing of different control methods, maximising the control of the pest, whilst minimising damage to natural enemies, pollinators and other non-target organisms
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Signals and cues used within tri-trophic interactions between pears, pests and natural enemies, and the weather variables with the potential to alter or disrupt them. Cues and signals are used in a range of ways: HIPVs (herbivore-induced plant volatiles) can be used by plants to recruit predators and parasitoids and signal to conspecifics to upregulate genes for plant defence. However, plant VOCs (volatile organic compounds) can be eavesdropped upon by pests to detect hosts. Pheromones, acoustic and visual signals can be used to attract mates and detect conspecifics for insects. These signals can also be eavesdropped upon by natural enemies to locate prey
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