Description
Wignest is a newly developed bioactive refuge that boosts numbers of earwigs and other beneficial predators of pests in apple and pear orchards.
Key Features
- Boosts predators that feed on a wide range of important pest species in orchards
- Significantly increases earwig populations
- Pre-loaded with earwig food attractant
- Offers protection against pesticide spray applications
- Perfect for organic or conventional orchards
- Lasts up to 3 years
Easy to Use
- Place one Wignest per tree at leaf bud-burst on a branch against the trunk of the tree within the lower tree canopy. The research partners consider that even placing one every three trees will result in significant benefits to boosting beneficials.
- For young trees on a post and wire system, wedge the Wignest between the tree and the post, hanging from the wire or a small branch.
Which Pests do Earwigs Feed On?
| Codling Moth | Pear Sucker | Woolly Apple Aphid |
|---|---|---|
| Major pests of apple and pear crops | Nymphs suck sap, the honeydew they produce is colonised by sooty mould | An important pest that is difficult to control. It can affect tree’ health and cause significant crop damage or loss |
| Larvae feed directly on the fruit | Yield, fruit size and skin quality redused | Reduces tree limbs and root stock |
| Significant losses from codling moth every year in most orchards | High losses in profitability | Established rapidly in orchards |
Why Choose Wignest?
Wignest boosts numbers of earwigs. Earwigs have proven invaluable within pome fruit orchards. They prey upon and significantly reduce numbers of damaging pests, such as the pear sucker, codling moth and woolly apple aphid.
Why So Few Earwigs?
Due to pesticide use and lack of shelter and food, earwigs are less successful in establishing in some pome fruit orchards. The earwig only produces one generation per year, so numbers can be diminished by insecticide use and soil disturbance if targeted during vulnerable stages of their life cycle. Providing shelter and food helps to establish a healthy population which will readily feed on pests.
Not Just Earwigs
The Wignest not only attracts earwigs, it provides shelter for a wide range of predatory species throughout the year, including ladybirds, spiders and lacewings.
For further information on Wignest, please contact a member of our technical sales team on 01952 897917.