Increased Catch of Codling Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Semiochemical-Baited Orange Plastic Delta-Shaped Traps

Abstract

Studies were conducted in apple, Malus domestica (Borkhausen), to evaluate the attractiveness of semiochemical-baited orange plastic versus the standard white plastic delta-shaped sticky trap in capturing adult codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. Initial field tests showed that both orange- and green-painted sex pheromone-baited traps caught more male codling moths than the unpainted white trap. An orange plastic trap caught a similar number of moths as the orange painted trap. The orange plastic trap caught significantly more moths in field tests than either a solid white plastic trap or a white plastic trap with an orange logo covering 25% of the surface of the trap. Trap color and light level (2.0 versus 6.0 lux) significantly impacted the proportion of male moths contacting and subsequently caught in sex pheromone-baited traps in a flight tunnel. A significantly higher proportion of moths flew directly into versus landing on the outside of orange than white traps. Capture of male moths flying into traps was reduced under the higher light level. Trap color did not influence the catch of female codling moths in traps baited with a combination of sex pheromone and pear ester in field tests or in traps baited with pear ester in the flight tunnel. The capture of female moths was reduced in the flight tunnel at the higher light level. We hypothesize that this effect of trap color on the capture of male codling moth is caused by both the lower overall reflectance and the absence of reflectance at wavelengths <560 nm in orange versus white traps.