Initial Studies of Mating Disruption of the Black headed Fire worm of Cranberries (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Abstract

We assessed the potential of pheromone-mediated mating disruption to control the black headed fire worm of cranberries, Rhopobota naevana (Hubner). In experimental plots (30 by 30 m) on cranberry farms, spiral polyvinyl chloride pheromone dispensers released either the main component of fire worm pheromone, (Z)-ll-tetradecen-l-ol acetate, or a 3-component blend, (Z)-ll-tetradecen-l-ol acetate, (Z)-ll-tetradecen-l-ol, and (Z)-9-dodccen-1-ol acetate, which is similar to the natural pheromone. In both years of the study, the incidence of mating of laboratory-reared female moths placed in pheromone-treated plots was reduced relative to those placed in control plots. Release rates of pheromone, which were estimated from the curvilinear relationship between the amount remaining in dispensers and time in the field, declined linearly and slowly over the experimental period. The estimated release ratio of the 3-component blend decreased from 5.2:1.9:1.0 at the beginning of the Season to 1.9:1.1:1.0 at the end. Results suggest that mating disruption is a promising technique for Immagement of the black headed fire worm.