Codling moth control by pheromone-mediated mating disruption

Release of colding moth pheromone (codlemone) from calling female, a lure used in monitoring traps and from a mating disruption dispenser. In comparison: release of one apple volatile (a-farnesene) from one semi-dwarf apple tree. Lepidopteran insects use sex pheromones to communicate for mating. Olfactory communication and mate-finding can be prevented by permeating the atmosphere with synthetic pheromone. The codling moth sex pheromone, codlemone, is species specific and nontoxic. Orchard treatments with up to 100 grams of synthetic codlemone per hectare effectively control codling moth populations over the entire growing season.

Research on codling moth was part of the Biosignal programme, 1996-2005, funded by MISTRA. After areawide tests in the Rörum orchard area, we have registered mating disruption for control of codling moth with the Swedish Chemicals Agency in 2006.

Practical implementation and registration of the mating disruption technique has been realized at an opportune time, since the most frequently used insecticide azinphosmethyl (guthion, gusathion) has been deregulated by the Swedish Chemicals Agency in 2007, due to its acute neurotoxicity. We have accordingly provided the growers with an efficient biological control method in due time.

Pheromone dispenser (polyethylene rope) used for Cydia pomonella mating disruption. 500 to 1000 dispensers are placed in the orchard (up to 1 dispenser per tree). Funding

MISTRA 1996-2005

Personnel

Marie Bengtsson, Peter Witzgall

Selected references

Bengtsson M, Bäckman A-C, Liblikas I, Ramirez MI, Borg-Karlson A-K, Ansebo L, Anderson P, Löfqvist J, Witzgall P. 2001. Plant odor analysis of apple: antennal response of codling moth females to apple volatiles during phenological development. J agr Food Chem 49:3736-3741

Witzgall P, Bengtsson M, Rauscher S, Liblikas I, Bäckman A-C, Coracini M, Anderson P, Löfqvist J. 2001. Identification of further sex pheromone synergists in the codling moth, Cydia pomonella. Entomol exp appl 101:131-141

Witzgall P, Stelinski L, Gut L, Thomson D. 2008. Codling moth management and chemical ecology. Annu Rev Entomol 53:503-522

Extension

Bengtsson M, Witzgall P. 1998. Feromonbekämpning mot äpplevecklaren. Frukt- och Bärodling 40(2):26

Witzgall P, Bengtsson M. 2007. Lura bort äpplevecklaren med förvirrande feromoner. Viola 112:13

Witzgall P, Bengtsson M, Casado D, Engström H, Tornéus C. 2002. Förvirringstider på Österlen. Frukt och Bär 44(3):8-10