Efficient Mass-Trapping Method As an Alternative Tactic for Suppressing Populations of Leopard Moth (Lepidoptera: Cossidae)

Abstract

The leopard moth, Zeuzera pyrina (L.) (Lepidoptera: Cossidae), is a xylophagous species that has become a serious pest in the olive (Olea spp.) orchards in Egypt. Both chemical and biological control have scored poorly against this pest and additional methods are needed. A simple, but efficient UV-light-pheromone sticky trap (“Hegazi model”) was devised for leopard moth mass trapping. Activity of leopard moth and efficiency of pheromone-baited, light, and pheromone and light traps were evaluated. The combination of light and sex pheromone was optimally attractive to leopard moth populations in olive orchards. A comparison between light traps baited with sex pheromone in mass-trapping method and conventional controls (insecticidal and physical removal of larvae) in heavily infested plots was carried out between 2002 and 2005. Leopard moths have long flight period, starting in mid-May and lasting until early November. Females of leopard moths were rarely trapped, but all had eggs. In mass-trapping plot, the seasonal captures and active galleries diminished from one year to the next, which may indicate the effectiveness of the method. From May 2003 to October 2005 greater reduction in total counts of active galleries was observed in mass-trapping plot compared with those recorded in the control field, in which chemical sprays and manual killing were performed. Yield from trees in mass-trapping field was significantly increased in comparison to control trees. The study strongly recommends the use of mass-trapping method instead of pesticides against the leopard moths, not only to control them but also to mass trap and monitor other lepidopterous pests of olive trees.

Synthesis of allylic trifluoromethyl ketones and their activity as inhibitors of the sex pheromone of the leopard moth, Zeuzera pyrina L. (Lepidoptera: Cossidae)

“…1–3 A 96:4 mixture of compounds 1 and 2 is used for male flight monitoring, and for population control by mass trapping and mating disruption. Both techniques have been applied successfully in several countries, but the best results have been achieved by mating disruption 4–7. Trifluoromethyl ketones (TFMKs) are known to inhibit a number of esterases and proteases, such as acetylcholinesterase, chymotrypsin, human liver carboxylesterases8, 9 and, particularly, the antennal esterases present in insect olfactory tissues 8, 10–12.…”

Mass‐trapping trials for the control of pine processionary moth in a pine woodland recreational area

“…Zeuzera pyrina (L.)] and, tested in forests, for Lymantria dispar (L.) (Campion, 1984;El-Sayed et al, 2006;Faccioli, Pasqualini, & Baronio, 1993;Hegazi et al, 2009;Patanita & Vargas-Osuna, 2011).…”

Interaction between the leopard moth borer and olive varieties: Associational resistance at work

“…The seasonal flight activity of both sexes of the pest was monitored for two consecutive years (2006 and 2007) by the UV-light -pheromone trap type (Hegazi et al, 2009). Five, 3 ha plot with bad history of ZP infestation were selected.…”

“…In 2006 and 2007, we monitored the season-long presence of leopard moth in five 3-ha olive plots by using light trap Hegazi model (Hegazi et al, 2009) baited with sex pheromone to understand the fluctuation of this pest's population in the olive orchard (Fig. 1) The effects of olive variety on leopard moth incidence were investigated by comparing: (1) the infestation severity and cumulative active larval galleries of ZP during the peak period of adult emergence on different strips of olive plots; (2) cumulative number of broken branches in bearing near harvesting period on different varieties of olive trees and (3) suitability of some olive varieties for larval growth of ZP.…”

“…The sexual pheromone of ZP is known and mass-trapping in pheromone baited traps and/or mating disruption may constitute promising alternative tactics, compatible with IPM strategies (Pasqualini et al, 1996;Pasqualini et al, 1999, Avilla andBosh, 2001;Hegazi et al, 2009 and2010).…”