Development of a new attract‐and‐kill technology for Oriental fruit moth control using insecticide‐impregnated fabric

Abstract

AbstractThe potential of a novel attract‐and‐kill pouch for pest control was assessed in a series of behavioral studies examining its effect on male Oriental fruit moth (OFM), Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). In contrast to traditional attract‐and‐kill technologies that combine insecticides and pheromones in a paste or gel, the prototype device consisted of a fabric pouch that was impregnated with deltamethrin and baited with a separate sex pheromone lure placed inside the pouch. This new approach not only provided a large insecticide‐treated surface for males to interact with but also prevented males from directly contacting the attractant, so as to minimize the risk of moths overloading their sensory system with sex pheromones. In a forced‐contact bioassay, increasing dosages of deltamethrin in the fabric from 0.02 to 0.6 mg cm−2 increased mortality or knockdown rate of OFM 2, 4, and 24 h after 5 s exposure. Likewise, duration of exposure to a deltamethrin‐treated pouch significantly affected the knockdown rate of OFM. All of the exposed moths were knocked down after 60 s exposure. In a flight tunnel bioassay, OFM males exhibited similar behaviors when offered either a control or deltamethrin‐treated pouch, indicating no repellency of the toxicant. Among the moths that contacted treated pockets, 98% was either knocked down or dead 1 h after exposure. Attract‐and‐kill pouches aged in the field for nearly a year resulted in a similar rate of knockdown of OFM compared to fresh pouches. Surprisingly, addition of a UV blocker, 2,4‐dihydroxybenzophenone, did not influence efficacy of deltamethrin in aged pouches. This simple, highly selective, and long‐lasting attract‐and‐kill device may provide an alternative control for OFM.