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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #114819
Title: SEASON-LONG RELEASES OF PARTIALLY STERILE MALES FOR CONTROL OF CODLING MOTH, CYDIA POMONELLA (L.), (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE) IN WASHINGTON APPLES

Author
item BLOEM, STEPHANIE - USDA-APHIS-NBCI
item BLOEM, K. A. - USDA-APHIS-NBCI
item Carpenter, James
item Calkins, Carrol

Submitted to: Environmental Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/22/2001
Publication Date: 8/1/2001
Citation: Bloem, S., Bloem, K.A., Carpenter, J.E., Calkins, C.O. 2001. Season-long releases of partially sterile males for control of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Washington apples. Environmental Entomology. 30:763-769.

Interpretive Summary: The codling moth is the key pest of apples in the Western United States. Hard pesticides have controlled the pest up to now, but recent legislation threatens to remove the compounds as control measures. Mating disruption and releases of sterile moths have been used as non-insecticidal control measures. This study reveals that the release of partially sterile codling gmoths alone or in combination with mating disruption is more effective tha releases of fully sterile moths or of mating disruption alone.

Technical Abstract: Season-long field studies were conducted in Washington apple orchards that compared: 1) twice per week releases of partially sterile codling moths treated with either 100 GY or 250 GY, and, 2) combinations of mating disruption plus the release of partially sterile (100 GY) codling moths, to control wild codling moth populations. No significant differences in the level of fruit damage at either mid-season or harvest were found between any of the treatments, or between the treatments and the inside controls. Damage in all plots was <0.1%. In both studies, trapping data suggest that the movement of the 100 GY treated moths into the other treatments and the inside controls may have masked treatment effects. However, fruit damage was significantly lower in all treatment plots when compared to control plots located outside the treatment areas. Results indicate that the release of partially sterile male (and fully sterile female) codling moths does not result in increased fruit injury and the lower dose of radiation used to partially sterilize (as opposed to fully sterilize) males results in insects that are more active, disperse greater distances, and are greatly more competitive.