ISHS Acta Horticulturae 151: III International Workshop on Fire Blight
ACTIVITY OF POLLINATING INSECTS OF FIRE BLIGHT HOST PLANTS |
| Authors: | P. LARUE, C. DESBONS, P. LECOMTE |
| Abstract:
The role of pollinating insects can be very important in the dissemination of fire blight bacteria during bloom. The activity of these insects is under the influence of climatic factors. Billing (1980) in her "system 2" proposes a combination of maximum daily temperature and sunshine duration to indicate fire blight infection risks due to insects. We have compared this indication with the actual number of insects visiting the trees. More than two climatic parameters are likely to be involved in the activity of pollinating insects (temperature, sunshine, wind, rain…) but among the two examined here, maximum temperature appears to have the strongest influence on insects. The influence of sunshine is not so obvious. Billing's index of "insect risks" appears sometimes to underestimate the actual activity of insects. | |
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