Plum sawfly

The Plum sawfly (Hoplocampa halcyon) is a serious pest belonging to the Tenthredinidae family of the Hymenoptera order. It is recognized as a significant threat to stone fruit production, primarily impacting the yield and quality of harvest in both commercial orchards and home gardens.

The primary hosts for this pest include trees within the Prunus genus, most notably plums and gages. The larvae are specialized feeders, targeting the generative parts of the plant, which makes their presence particularly destructive during the early fruit-setting stages.

The life cycle of the sawfly is synchronized with the phenology of the host plant. The larvae overwinter in soil cocoons. As temperatures rise in spring, pupation occurs, followed by the emergence of adults just before or during the flowering period. Females deposit eggs individually into the sepals of the blossoms.

Damage symptoms are characterized by the larvae boring into the developing fruitlet. As they feed on the pulp and the seed, the fruit becomes filled with excrement and usually drops prematurely. A single larva can damage several fruitlets during its growth period, drastically reducing the final yield.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is essential for successful control. This includes both physical and chemical measures. Monitoring emergence via sticky traps allows for precise timing of chemical interventions, which should ideally occur immediately after petal fall to target larvae before they successfully enter the fruitlets.

• Autumn soil cultivation to destroy overwintering cocoons.
• Deployment of white sticky traps for monitoring and mass trapping.
• Application of selective insecticides post-flowering.
• Sanitary fruit removal to minimize population buildup.