Mechanisms mediating false codling moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta (lepidoptera: Tortricidae), mating disruption using...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Entomology
• Pest Management Science
• Chemical Ecology

Background:

• False codling moth (FCM) is a significant agricultural pest in stone fruit, table grapes, and citrus.
• Mating disruption offers a sustainable, environmentally friendly control method for FCM.
• The specific mechanism of mating disruption in FCM and key success factors remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the disruption mechanism of mating disruption on False codling moth (FCM).
• To establish optimal pheromone dosage and dispenser density for effective FCM control.
• To evaluate the efficacy of mating disruption as part of an integrated pest management strategy.

Main Methods:

• Utilized mark-release-recapture (MRR) experiments with sterile FCM.
• Calculated dosage-response profiles, optimal dosage, and optimal density.
• Applied increasing pheromone dispenser densities in stone fruit and table grape blocks to assess disruption levels.

Main Results:

• Identified a hybrid disruption profile for FCM, exhibiting competitive disruption at low dosages and non-competitive disruption at higher dosages.
• Mating disruption proved highly effective in controlling FCM in treated blocks.
• Optimal control was achieved with 800 dispensers/ha, with effectiveness maintained at lower densities (36 sites/ha).

Conclusions:

• Mating disruption is a highly effective control strategy for FCM, achieving up to 99% disruption.
• A shift to non-competitive disruption at higher dosages is key to maximizing efficacy.
• Mating disruption is strongly recommended for integration into current FCM pest management programs.