Mating Disruption as a Suppression Tactic in Programs Targeting Regulated Lepidopteran Pests in US

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Entomology
• Pest Management
• Chemical Ecology

Background:

• Mating disruption utilizes species-specific pheromones to interfere with insect reproduction.
• This method is considered for area-wide management of invasive moths due to low toxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review case histories of mating disruption programs in the United States for four invasive moth species.
• To analyze factors influencing the success and public perception of these programs.

Main Methods:

• Case study analysis of four invasive moth programs: pink bollworm, gypsy moth, light brown apple moth, and European grapevine moth.
• Comparison of hand-applied versus aerial application strategies and integration with other control tactics.

Main Results:

• Mating disruption was integrated with other tactics for pink bollworm and European grapevine moth, aiding eradication efforts.
• Aerial application for gypsy moth slowed spread, while similar application for light brown apple moth faced public opposition, halting eradication attempts.

Conclusions:

• Mating disruption is a valuable tool for invasive moth management, but success is influenced by application method and public acceptance.
• Further research is needed to understand the discrepancies in program outcomes between different pest species and application strategies.