Abstract
Monitoring oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta Busck (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), populations based on counts in sex pheromone-baited traps within sex pheromone-treated orchards for mating disruption (MD) is challenging since male orientation to traps is disrupted. In this study, we evaluated a new commercial pheromone–kairomone combination lure for G. molesta (Pherocon® OFM Combo™ Dual™), which combines the G. molesta and Cydia pomonella L. sex pheromones with a blend of acetic acid and terpinyl acetate. Trap comparisons were performed in 33 trials in peach and nectarine orchards under MD (24) or non-MD (9) during the 2018–2019 period in Italy. Male and total moth captures in traps baited with the combination lure were significantly greater than in traps with G. molesta pheromone in both years and across both pheromone treatments. The proportion of females in the total moth captures using the combination lure averaged ca. 7% across all trials. The by-catch of non-targets, i.e., Apis mellifera L., was low in traps baited either with the combination and the sex pheromone lure, while trap color (white) affected the capture of beneficials but not of the target pest. Our study proves that this combination lure can improve the monitoring and management for G. molesta in stone fruits. New studies are needed to define action thresholds to trigger supplemental control methods to MD. Secondly, female-based monitoring lures should be further developed to improve management strategies.
Highlights
The oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta Busck (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a global key pest of peaches and nectarines (Prunus persica L.), as well as an important pest of other stone and pome fruit crops such as plums (Prunus salicina Lindl.), apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.), apples (Malus domestica Borkh.)and pears (Pyrus communis L.) [1]
Peach and nectarine orchards are typically managed under Integrated Fruit Production (IFP) plans, which include the use of sex pheromones for the Mating Disruption (MD) of G. molesta, together with some supplemental insecticidal applications according to the forecasting models for pest occurrence
G. molesta captures with the combination lure were on average at least three-fold higher than the sex pheromone captures, while in non-MD orchards, the difference was 6.5-fold, on average
Summary
The oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta Busck (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a global key pest of peaches and nectarines (Prunus persica L.), as well as an important pest of other stone and pome fruit crops such as plums (Prunus salicina Lindl.), apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.), apples (Malus domestica Borkh.)and pears (Pyrus communis L.) [1]. Field studies have demonstrated that the male behavior varies according to the amount of sex pheromone loaded and released by the MD dispensers (in relation to the characteristics and density of the pheromone emitters), resulting in the males following a false-plume and being “sexually distracted” rather than creating a proper “sexual disruption or confusion” with no male orientation [7]. To overcome this problem, growers typically place the sex pheromone-baited traps in the edges of their MD-treated orchards in the hope to intercept male flight activity. Various G. molesta infestations have occurred in MD-treated peach and nectarine orchards in the Emilia-Romagna region (Italy) [9], where growers usually determine their control intervention timing based on forecasting models
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