Application of pheromones for the management of insect pests in Montana

Authors: Reddy, Gadi V.P.

Submitted to: International Society of Chemical Ecology Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/3/2021
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Wheat stem sawfly, wireworms, wheat Head Armyworm, wheat midge on cereal crops and pea leaf weevil on pulse crops are causing significant damage on cereal and pulse crops. Farmers are using insecticides for control of these pests but the applications costs have been expensive and do not provide adequate control. Therefore, pheromone-based work on these pests were undertaken from 2012 to 2020. Pheromone baited traps have been effective in monitoring the pest population that help to take the appropriate control methods. Although, pheromone-based traps caught sufficient number of wheat stem sawfly adults, colored traps caught more sawflies than the bucket and the delta traps. Pitfall traps are effective traps that catch click beetles. The European based click beetle pheromone lures were not effective in catching the click beetles in Montana. Pheromone traps are useful and effective in monitoring wheat head armyworm and lures with 1 mg of pheromone compounds are sufficient for monitoring this pest. The prevalence of wheat midge and its natural enemy was also well documented in Montana using pheromone baited sticky traps. Pheromone-baited pitfall and ramp traps caught significantly more pea leaf weevils than ground or delta traps in pulse crops. Pitfall traps baited with gray rubber septa captured significantly more adults than traps baited with membrane formulations. These findings are useful and can be used in monitoring and managing the pest population.

Technical Abstract: The cereal and pulse crops are major crops grown in Montana. Wheat stem sawfly, wireworms, wheat Head Armyworm, wheat midge on cereal crops and pea leaf weevil on pulse crops are causing significant damage. While the chemical control is one option, often do not provide adequate control. Therefore, pheromone-based work on these pests were undertaken from 2012 to 2020. Although, pheromone-based traps caught sufficient number of wheat stem sawfly adults, colored traps caught more sawflies than the bucket and the delta traps. Pitfall traps are found to be passive traps that catch click beetles (adult forms of wireworms) that happen to fall into them. The European based click beetle pheromone lures were not effective in catching the click beetles in Montana. Pheromone traps attracted wheat head armyworm males at all the study sites indicating the presence of this pest in Montana and lower dose (1 mg) of lures are adequate for monitoring this pest. The prevalence of wheat midge and its natural enemy was also well documented in Montana using pheromone baited sticky traps. In pulse crops, pheromone-baited pitfall and ramp traps caught significantly more pea leaf weevils than ground or delta traps. Pitfall traps baited with gray rubber septa captured significantly more adults than traps baited with membrane formulations. All these findings can be used to improve pest monitoring and should be taken into consideration when developing an integrated pest management program.