CONTROL OF THE CODLING MOTH (CYDIA-POMONELLA) IN APPLE AND PEAR ORCHARDS IN ISRAEL BY MATING DISRUPTION

Control of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortri cidae), by pheromone-mediated mating disruption, was studied in Israel using two types of dispensers: Shin-Etsu twist-tie (normal and long-l ife) and TNO matrix formulation (square wafers). Factors affecting mat ing disruption: initial pest population density, timing of the pheromo ne application, early season insecticide treatments and monitoring of the pest, were evaluated. Efficacy of mating disruption was assessed b y comparing catch of males in pheromone traps located in pheromone-tre ated and chemically sprayed control plots. Fruit infestation during th e season and at picking time was the major criterion to assess mating disruption. The preferred time for pheromone application was before th e first flight of the moth. When pheromones were applied at a later st age, one or two early insecticide sprays had to be used to reduce the initial level of the codling moth population. In all tests, trap catch in pheromone-treated plots was drastically reduced as compared with r espective control plots. In pheromone-treated plots where total season al trap catch (after pheromone application) was less than 12 males/tra p, fruit infestation was less than 1.5%; zero trap catch resulted in 0 .1-0.3% infestation. At high population levels, mating disruption was ineffective, with the rate of infestation at picking-time being simila r in pheromone-treated and control plots. All the field tests indicate d that mating disruption with either Shin-Etsu ropes or TNO squares ca n control codling moth infestations in apple and pear orchards, at rel atively low densities of the pest, as efficiently as commercial insect icide sprays.