The relationship between the placement of mating disruption dispensers and pheromone trap efficacy for monitoring adult codling moth (Cydia pomonella)

During 2007 and 2008 we investigated the relationship between pheromone monitoring trap placement and mating disruption dispenser placement on the capture of Cydia pomonella (L.) adults. Large plastic delta traps placed at 1.8 m or 4.5 m were baited with Long Life® CM 1X lures during the first generation flight and Pherocon CM DA combo® lures for the second generation flight. Mating disruption dispensers at the field recommended rate were placed at 3.2 m in height in all treated plots. The experiment was replicated four times in a commercial apple orchard in Adams County, Pennsylvania. All traps were placed in rectangular 15x24 m areas of apple trees containing either no mating disruption (untreated), CheckMate® CM/OFM duel dispensers, or Isomate® CM/OFM TT combo dispensers. Treatment areas were spaced approximately 50 m apart. In 2007, traps baited with CM DA combo lures and placed at 4.5 m in mating disruption treated plots caught significantly more moths than traps placed at 1.8 m in both mating disruption and non-mating disruption environments. There were no significant differences in moth capture between any treatments using CM 1X lures in 2007 or 2008, however, traps placed at 4.5 m in mating disruption treatments captured numerically more moths in 2007. In 2008 traps placed at 4.5 m captured numerically more moths in all treatments than traps placed at 1.8 m.