Mating disruption using multi-species pheromones released from a single Microsprayers was evaluated in apples. Here, we report the effectiveness of a 96:4 blend of Z11-14:Ac and Z11-14:OH; Z8-12:Ac, and (E,E)8, 10-12:OH broadcasted from a MSU Microsprayer for mating disruption of Cydia pomonella L., Grapholitha molesta (Busck), Argyrotaenia velutinana (Walker), and Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris). Turning "on" and "off" the Microsprayer for periods of 7-8 days, mating disruption and time to recovery was monitored with grids of 25-30 pheromone traps in 1.2 to 2.0 acre apple blocks. Moth captures and fruit damage was used to evaluate mating disruption and area disrupted utilizing ARCVIEW.
MSU Microsprayers were efficient pheromone-broadcasting devices with an active space of »0.450 ha generating pheromone plums reaching more than 100 m downwind. In all species, field response to mating disruption was unexpectedly different from that observed in wind tunnel experiments. Moth communication disruption occurred 1-3 days after the release of pheromone, but a rapid sensory recovery occurred after 3-6 days of continuous exposure. Percent trap "shut-down" was not related to percentage of protection from insect damage. In fact, the size of the disrupted area for codling moth-Oriental fruit moth was 40.7% and 43.5% in both the pheromone treatment and control. However, the area with less than 1% fruit damage was 78.0% in the pheromone treatment, but only 27.4% in the control. In general, canopy conditions, wind direction and insect behavior were the most important factors contributing to the success of mating disruption using a single point pheromone source.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Tortricidae Cydia pomonella (codling moth)
Species 2: Lepidoptera Tortricidae Grapholitha molesta (oriental fruit moth)
Species 3: Lepidoptera Tortricidae Choristoneura rosaceana (obliquebanded leafroller)
Keywords: Mating disruption, Microsprayer
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA