Multi-species mating disruption in Wisconsin cranberries

Three moth species, cranberry fruitworm, Acrobasis vaccinii (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), sparganothis fruitworm, Sparganothis sulfureana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and blackheaded fireworm, Rhopobota naevana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), are perennial pests of cranberries in Wisconsin. Previous work has shown pheromone-based mating disruption to be a promising non-insecticidal method of pest control in cranberries; however, a suitable carrier and delivery system is still needed. We partnered with ISCA Technologies, Inc. (Riverside, CA) and Wisconsin cranberry growers to perform a multi-species mating disruption trial in cranberries. The pheromones were loaded into ISCA’s novel paraffin wax carrier, SPLAT^®, and applied directly to the cranberry vines. In 2012 we tested a 2-species blend (sparganothis fruitworm and blackheaded fireworm) at four marshes in central Wisconsin. Despite many logistical issues, trapping data from one marsh showed 87% disruption for blackheaded fireworm and 55% disruption for sparganothis fruitworm in the SPLAT^®block verses the control. In 2013, a 3-species blend was applied at six marshes, totaling 50 acres under mating disruption. We caught fewer blackheaded fireworm and cranberry fruitworm moths in the SPLAT® blocks verses the control, but more sparganothis fruitworm moths in the SPLAT® blocks.