Advancing codling moth mating disruption: Part 5–attract and remove

Dosage-response profiles generated in cage experiments revealed that superior disruption of codling moth was achieved when the initial attraction to a dispenser resulted in the complete elimination of subsequent male orientations, i.e., males were removed following attraction. A series of flight tunnel studies have guided us in optimizing technologies for attraction and removal of codling moth. Removal can be achieved either by use of a toxicant or by permanently ensnaring the insect. Wind tunnel assays suggest that having a horizontal surface upwind of the pheromone source increases time spent near the attractant source. Overall, results suggest that an effective attracticidal formulation should include an attractant source that maximizes getting moths close to the source and some structure that maximizes moth landing. The toxicant or trapping surface will most likely be located on the structure where moths will first land and not the attractant source (lure). Several attract-and-remove devices provided substantial levels of CM disruption in field tests.