Plume Reach and Trapping Radius for Codling moth (Cydia pomonella)

Codling moth, Cydia Pomonella, is a key pest of apple in Michigan and around the world.  Management decisions are made using catch data from sex pheromone-baited monitoring traps. Because absolute pest density in not known these decisions are made based on relative population numbers. Using modeling software and field research a novel method of data analysis is presented to interpret catch data from a central-trap-multiple-release experimental design.  Using a standard pheromone baited monitoring trap it is possible to quantify; 1) the trap findability (T_fer), 2) the dispersive distance for a population of insects, 3) the plume reach, and 4) trapping area.  This method of data analysis enables researchers, for the first time, to use catch data from a monitoring trap to estimate absolute pest density over a measured trapping area.  More precise measures of pest density per unit area can equate to more precise management decisions.