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Title: OPTIMIZATION OF PHEROMONE DOSE FOR GYPSY MOTH (LEPIDOPTERA: LYMANTRIIDAE) MATING DISRUPTION

Author
item TCHESLAVSKAIA, K - VIRGINIA TECH
item THORPE, KEVIN
item SHAROV, A - VIRGINIA TECH
item LEONARD, D - USDA FOREST SERVICE
item REARDON, R - USDA FOREST SERVICE
item MASTRO, V - USDA APHIS
item SELLERS, P - USDA FOREST SERVICE
item BREWSTER, C - VIRGINIA TECH
item ROBERTS, E - VIRGINIA TECH

Submitted to: Agricultural and Forest Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/4/2005
Publication Date: 6/1/2005
Citation: Tcheslavskaia, K.S., Thorpe, K.W., Sharov, A.A., Leonard, D.S., Reardon, R.C., Mastro, V.C., Sellers, P., Brewster, C.C., Roberts, E.A. 2005. Optimization of pheromone dose for gypsy moth (lepidoptera: lymantriidae) mating disruption. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 115 (3): 355-361.

Interpretive Summary: The gypsy moth, a serious pest of trees in the northeastern United States, continues to expand its range to the west and south. A federal Slow-the-Spread of the Gypsy Moth program (STS) is underway to reduce the rate of expansion along the 1,200 mile front which extends from North Carolina to Wisconsin. Mating disruption is the primary control tactic used because it only affects the gypsy moth and therefore has no unintended environmental impacts and because it is highly effective. Mating disruption involves the aerial application of synthetic gypsy moth sex pheromone to prevent moth mating. When the STS program began, mating disruptants were applied at a rate of 30 grams of pheromone per acre. Field tests conducted in 2000 and 2002 showed that the application rate could be reduced to 15 grams per acre, and in some cases to 6 grams per acre, with no reduction in effectiveness. Based in part on these findings, STS now applies pheromone for mating disruption at 15 or 6 grams per acre, depending on the density of gypsy moths. Since the pheromone is the most expensive component of the mating disruption treatments, this has resulted in substantial improvements in cost effectiveness. The information presented in this report will provide guidance to government agencies, gypsy moth control specialists, and other persons interested in gypsy moth mating disruption programs.

Technical Abstract: Abstract The effect of aerial applications of disparlure applied in plastic flakes at doses ranging from 0 to 75 g AI/ha on mating success in low-density gypsy moth populations was determined in field plots in Virginia, USA during 2000 and 2002. A significant dose-response was obtained, with reduced capture of males in traps and reduced successful mating of females with increasing dose. The doses of 37.5 and 15 g AI/ha of pheromone were shown to effectively disrupt mating and, therefore, are recommended for operational use. Lower doses of pheromone significantly reduced trap catch and mating, but to a lesser extent than did the three highest doses (15-75 g AI/ha). Furthermore, the effectiveness of the lower dose treatments declined through time, and by the end of the test trap catch and mating success were significantly lower at 37.5 and 15 g AI/ha compared to the lower doses. The proportion of females mating was reduced more by lower doses of pheromone than was trap catch, indicating that reduction in trap catch alone provides a useful evaluation of the effectiveness of gypsy moth mating disruption treatments.