OVERWINTERING OF STETHORUS-PUNCTUM-PUNCTUM (COLEOPTERA, COCCINELLIDAE) IN APPLE ORCHARD GROUND COVER

Overwintering of adult Stethorus punctum punctum (LeConte) was investi gated in apple orchards in south-central Pennsylvania. A separation te chnique was developed to remove adults from soil samples. Density of o verwintering adults in the autumn mas greatest in the area around the trunks of the apple trees, but because of the relatively small area of the ground cover in the hunk zone, more adults were located in the re mainder of the herbicide strip and in the border between the herbicide strip and drive row, In the spring, however, >70% of the adults were located in the trunk zone. Adults were associated with fallen leaves a nd apple root suckers. Density of adults in orchard ground cover peake d in midautumn and declined to relatively low levels in the spring. Me thods to conserve this predator while managing tufted apple bud moth, Platynota idaeusalis (Walker), are discussed.