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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #195475
Title: GYPSY MOTH MATING DISRUPTION RESEARCH

Author
item THORPE, KEVIN
item TCHESLAVSKAIA, KSENIA - VA. TECH

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/2/2006
Publication Date: 5/22/2006
Citation: Thorpe, K.W., Tcheslavskaia, K.S. 2006. Gypsy moth mating disruption research. Meeting Abstract. North American Forest Insect Work Conference (NAFIWC) Meeting held in Asheville, NC, May 22-25, 2006.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Since 2000, 82% of the nearly 2.9 million acres treated in the federal Slow-the-Spread of the Gypsy Moth Program (STS) used mating disruption. It is a preferred tactic because it is target specific, inexpensive, and effective. To date the program has exceeded its spread rate reduction goals, resulting in a benefit to cost ratio of 3:1. The program currently includes 10 states and nearly 100 million acres. A sophisticated internet-based data management system and decision algorithm are used to manage the volume of data collected in STS and to assist in decision making. As a consequence of its use in STS, mating disruption has been used to manage gypsy moth populations on an average of 400,000 acres per year over the last 6 years. In terms of land area, this is currently the largest mating disruption program in operation against any insect pest. Research efforts are continuing to develop and evaluate new formulations, especially sprayable formulations that can be applied through conventional hydraulic nozzles, to better define the conditions of gypsy moth population density under which mating disruption will be successful, and to better understand gypsy moth population dynamics at very low population densities, especially those factors that affect mating success and the establishment and growth of isolated colonies.