Economics of employing pheromones for mating disruption of the codling moth, Carpocapsa pomonella

Abstract

The costs of using mating disruption versus traditional insecticide applications for controling the codling moth in Washington apple orchards were examined. Successful mating disruption prevents the codling moth from ovipositing and consequently there are no larvae to damage apples. The spray records of central Washington apple producers and research orchards were analyzed. Analysis of these budgets revealed that on average mating disruption is more expensive by $188.22 per hectare. Mating disruption was more economical under low codling moth population pressure. The years 1991 and 1992 were considered low and high codling moth population years, respectively. On the average, it was $97.46 more expensive per hectare to use mating disruption in 1992 than in 1991. A risk analysis or price/cost sensitivity analysis confirmed that changes in pheromone prices, cover spray use and cullage could alter the outcome of the economic analysis to where pheromone control would be the economically desirable control method.