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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #191501
Title: COMPARISON OF METHODS FOR DEPLOYING FEMALE GYPSY MOTHS TO EVALUATE MATING DISRUPTION TREATMENTS

Author
item Thorpe, Kevin
item HICKMAN, A. - LEXINGTON, VA
item TCHESLAVSKAIA, K. - VA. TECH
item LEONARD, D. - USDA, FOREST SEV.
item ROBERTS, E. - VA. TECH

Submitted to: Agricultural and Forest Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/14/2006
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The gypsy moth is a major pest of forest and shade trees in the northeastern United States. Under the National Slow-the-Spread of the Gypsy Moth Project (STS), over 288,000 acres were treated in 2005 with the gypsy moth sex pheromone, disparlure, to disrupt mating and slow the advance of populations to the west and south. Ongoing research to improve the cost effectiveness of mating disruption treatments relies on the deployment of gypsy moth females in disparlure-treated areas to measure mating disruption. The purpose of the study reported here was to compare several methods of deploying females and to identify the best method. The methods investigated were the deployment of females in small cardboard structures, on tree trunks with various barrier bands, and tethered to the tree trunk with a thread. While tethered females had the highest mating success, the method was too time and labor intensive. Mating success was unacceptably low among females in the cardboard structures. Of the tree trunk barriers, a circular barrier with a small tray at the bottom resulted in the highest mating and recovery rates, and so is the recommended method. This information will help researchers and other persons interested in evaluating the effectiveness of gypsy moth mating disruption programs. Improved methods of evaluating gypsy moth mating disruption programs will benefit the USDA Forest Service, APHIS, and those states involved in and receiving benefits from the STS program.

Technical Abstract: The gypsy moth is a major pest of forest and shade trees in the northeastern United States. Under the National Slow-the-Spread of the Gypsy Moth Project (STS), over 288,000 acres were treated in 2005 with the gypsy moth sex pheromone, disparlure, to disrupt mating and slow the advance of populations to the west and south. Ongoing research to improve the cost effectiveness of mating disruption treatments relies on the deployment of gypsy moth females in disparlure-treated areas to measure mating disruption. The purpose of the study reported here was to compare several methods of deploying females and to identify the best method. The methods investigated were the deployment of females in small cardboard structures, on tree trunks with various barrier bands, and tethered to the tree trunk with a thread. While tethered females had the highest mating success, the method was too time and labor intensive. Mating success was unacceptably low among females in the cardboard structures. Of the tree trunk barriers, a circular barrier with a small tray at the bottom resulted in the highest mating and recovery rates, and so is the recommended method. This information will help researchers and other persons interested in evaluating the effectiveness of gypsy moth mating disruption programs. Improved methods of evaluating gypsy moth mating disruption programs will benefit the USDA Forest Service, APHIS, and those states involved in and receiving benefits from the STS program.