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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #348541
Research Project: New Technologies and Strategies to Manage the Changing Pest Complex on Temperate Fruit Trees

Location: Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research

Title: Field validation of a three chemical controlled release dispenser to attract codling moth (Cydia pomonella) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Author
item JAFFE, BENJIMAN - University Of Wisconsin
item Landolt, Peter

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/2/2018
Publication Date: 3/13/2018
Citation: Jaffe, B., Landolt, P.J. 2018. Field validation of a three chemical controlled release dispenser to attract codling moth (Cydia pomonella) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 111(3):1268-1274. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toy045.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toy045

Interpretive Summary: Codling moth is the key pest of apple and a primary pest of pear in the western United States. New approaches to manage insect pests of apple and pear crops are needed that are safe, effective, and compatible with the environment. Researchers at the USDA-ARS laboratory in Wapato, Washington, collaborating with scientists at the Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, developed a new controlled release dispenser system for a 3-chemical lure for female and male codling moth that is useful for trapping female moths to prevent fruit damage. Field trials demonstrated good efficacy of this simpler and less expensive “sachet” method in comparison to a standard “vial” method for the codling moth lure. This information provides cost savings to research and applications that use the chemical lure to trap out female codling moths in apple and pear orchards.

Technical Abstract: Male and female codling moths, Cydia pomonella, were shown to be attracted to three chemical kairoonomal lure comprised of pear ester, acetic acid, and n-butyl sulfide. A novel controlled-release device based on sachets was developed in the laboratory and field tested to optimize the attractivness of C. pomonella to this combination of attractants, and to decrease material costs associated with the contolled release of these chemicals. The lure was most effective when pear ester was released from a separate dispenser than acetic acid and n-butyl sulfide. Acetic acid and n-butyl sulfide can be combined into one device without negatively affecting C. pomonella trap catches and there was an optimal release rate of pear ester. A sachet based controlled-release system of pear ester, acetic acid, and n-butyl sulfide can effectively replace a vial and septa controlled-release system without negatively affecting trap catches. These findings have important consequences in promoting the adoption of attract-and-kill and mass trapping paradigms for C. pomonella management.