Oriental fruit moth (OFM), Grapholita molesta(Busck), has recently become a key direct pest of apples in western North Carolina. Mating disruption was evaluated as a control tactic against OFM in large plot trials using Isomate M 100 dispensers, and 3M sprayable pheromone formulations, and compared to conventionally managed and abandoned blocks. Pheromone trap catches of OFM adult males in the disrupted plots were very low throughout the entire season, remaining at or near zero. Isomate M 100 was more effective than sprayable pheromones in suppressing captures. Pheromone traps placed in the higher canopy consistently captured more moths than the traps in the lower canopy regardless of the management regime. Overall damage caused by larvae was low in all mating disruption treatments. Different rates of sprayable pheromone applied at 5, 12.5, and 20 grams/acre were also evaluated in small-plot studies. There was no significant difference among the treatments of sprayable pheromone formulation.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Tortricidae Grapholita molesta (oriental fruit moth)
Keywords: Oriental fruit moth, Mating Disruption
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA