Evaluation of extended‐season mating disruption of the Oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lep., Tortricidae) in apples

Abstract

Oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lep., Tortricidae) has recently become a key pest of apples throughout the eastern USA. Pheromone‐mediated mating disruption of Oriental fruit moth was successfully used in North Carolina apple orchards in the past few years. However, low levels of late‐season fruit damage occurred in some orchards treated in late May with hand‐applied pheromone dispensers because of inadequate dispenser longevity. To investigate alternative pheromone application schedules for extended mating disruption control, the following pheromone treatments were compared with conventional insecticides in Henderson County (NC) in 2002: late May application of hand‐applied dispensers; late June application of hand‐applied dispensers; late May application of hand‐applied dispensers supplemented with a late August application of sprayable pheromone dispensers; late May application of hand‐applied dispensers which have a longer activity period; and conventional insecticides as a control. All treatments were sprayed with an insecticide at petal fall in late April for thinning and for control of the first generation Oriental fruit moth adults. Pheromone trap catches were significantly reduced in all mating disruption blocks compared with conventional insecticide blocks. Among pheromone treatments, the highest trap captures were recorded in the delayed hand‐applied dispenser treatment in June before treatment. However, the mean percentage fruit damage did not vary with timing of application of hand‐applied dispensers and the type of pheromone dispenser used. Clearly, the combination of each mating disruption treatment with insecticide application against first generation Oriental fruit moth was as effective as the conventional insecticide treatment under moderate population pressure.

Pheromone-Based Mating Disruption of <I>Planococcus ficus</I> (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in California Vineyards

“…We observed a signiÞcant reduction in the number of male mealybugs caught in traps. This result is an indication of pheromone effects, but it does not necessarily signify successful mating disruption; the reduction in trap catches among treatments is not always proportional to the reduction of crop damage or changes in pest population density, as shown for oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Kovanci et al 2004), and pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lykouressis et al 2005). In fact, when we later measured mealybug population density on the vines, we found that the level of mealybug reduction as measured by pheromone trap catches (Fig.…”

Three-dimensional antennal lobe atlas of the oriental fruit moth, Cydia molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae): comparison of male and female glomerular organization

“…The oriental fruit moth Cydia molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), previously known as Grapholita molesta, is a major pest of stone fruits worldwide and recently also of apples and pears (Rothschild and Vickers 1991;Il'ichev et al 2004;Reis et al 1988;Hickel and Ducroquet 1998;Kovanci et al 2004). Its sex pheromone blend comprises four components: (Z)-8 dodecenyl acetate (Z8-12:Ac), (E)-8 dodecenyl acetate (E8-12:Ac), (Z)-8 dodecen-1-ol (Z8-12:OH) and dodecan-1-ol (12:OH) (Roelofs et al 1969;Cardé et al 1979), the first three being required to evoke pheromone-mediated flight in males (Baker et al 1981;Charlton and Cardé 1981;Linn and Roelofs 1983).…”

Effects of pheromone loading, dispenser age, and trap height on pheromone trap catches of the oriental fruit moth in apple orchards

“…It has recently become problematic in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) orchards in the eastern USA, especially in areas where peach and apple orchards are located in close proximity or in areas free of stone fruit orchards (13,19). In North Carolina (NC), OFM completes four generations on apples grown in monoculture (18) and it has become even more damaging than the codling moth Cydia pomonella (L.) (20).…”