Integrated control of psyllid vectors of European fruit tree phytoplasmas

As there is no applicable means to cure a phytoplasma-infected fruit tree, insecticide treatments are the first measures to control the spread of fruit tree phytoplasma diseases whenever a vector species is identified. Although it is impossible to eliminate all vectors from the environment, well-managed vector control strategies significantly reduce the chance of an epidemic outbreak of phytoplasma diseases. However, important differences exist between the control of univoltine and polyvoltine psyllid vectors. Highly efficient univoltine vectors, e.g. Cacopsylla picta, the vector of apple proliferation disease, might be present in the orchards in very low abundance. An appropriate and efficient insecticides might miss or might not be homologated in all countries. Control of univoltine vectors is not well studied as it is the case for Cacopsylla pruni, the vector of European stone fruit yellows. On the contrary, polyvoltine pear psyllids, vectors of pear decline, are pests on their own and, therefore, control strategies and efficacies of different insecticides are well studied. The present work, focus on recent progress made in integrated control of pear psyllids.