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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Invasive Insect Biocontrol & Behavior Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #293208
Title: Effect of a pheromone antagonist-based disruption blend on dogwood borer (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) mate-finding and infestation in a commercial apple orchard

Author
item FRANK, DANIEL - West Virginia University
item Zhang, Aijun
item Wright, Starker
item WALGENBACH, JAMES - North Carolina State University
item BERGH, CHRISTOPHER - Virginia Polytechnic Institution & State University
item Leskey, Tracy

Submitted to: Journal of Entomological Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/2/2013
Publication Date: 1/15/2014
Citation: Frank, D., Zhang, A., Wright, S.E., Walgenbach, J., Bergh, C.J., Leskey, T.C. 2014. Effect of a pheromone antagonist-based disruption blend on dogwood borer (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) mate-finding and infestation in a commercial apple orchard. Journal of Entomological Science. 49(1):44-45.

Interpretive Summary: The dogwood borer (DWB) has been recognized as an economically important insect pest of apple trees in eastern North America. Consecutive years of larval feeding can cause the destruction of vascular plant tissue, resulting in the death of young trees. The control of DWB in apple hosts has relied on insecticide applications. Behavioral manipulation of pest insects is an environmentally benign tactic that has received increasing attention for pest control. In a previous study, we identified a sex attractant and repellent for DWB and developed a DWB population monitoring system. Here, we report effects of a repellent-based stimulant on disruption of DWB mate-finding and occurrence of infestation in a commercial apple orchards for control purposes. Information gained from this study provided additional control tactics that can be used to target multiple aspects of DWB biology and multiple life stages. This information will be used by scientists and growers to develop more sustainable management approaches to control DWB.

Technical Abstract: The effect of a pheromone antagonist-based disruption blend on disruption of dogwood borer, Synanthedon scitula (Harris), mate-finding behavior and incidence of infestation were evaluated in a commercial apple orchard from 2006-2008. Although the pheromone antagonist-based disruption blend treatment significantly disrupted male mate-finding behavior during each year of the study, there was a significant increase in the percentage of infested trees from the start to the conclusion of the experiment, likely due to the immigration of mated females from surrounding untreated orchard blocks. In 2007, pheromone-baited traps deployed in an east-west transect through the study area showed that capture of male moths increased as the distance from the disruption plot increased. The results of geostatistical analysis indicated that there were high degrees of aggregation in dogwood borer infestations in the study area, with ranges of spatial autocorrelation from 10.2 to 22.5 m. For each year, the spatial distribution of larval infestation was best described by the exponential semiovariogram model. Interpolated surface maps of infestation revealed local hot spots, which were more prevalent within the control 2 plot in 2006 and 2007. Hot spots increased in size and intensity each year of the study in the disruption and control 1 plot.