SEX-PHEROMONE TRAPS FOR MONITORING THE EUROPEAN VINE MOTH, LOBESIA-BOTRANA - EFFECT OF DISPENSER TYPE, PHEROMONE DOSE, FIELD AGING OF DISPENSER, AND TYPE OF TRAP ON MALE CAPTURES

The effects of dispenser type, pheromone dose in the dispenser, aging of dispenser in the field, and trap type on trapping efficiency of mal es of the European vine moth, Lobesia botrana Den. et Schiff. (Lepidop teraL: tortricidae) were investigated. LB Pherocon caps and locally ma nufactured septa were equally effective in attracting males to traps. Within the range of 0.1 to 100 mug pheromone/dispenser, response of ma les increased positively with the pheromone dose. Within the first 7 d ays tested, pheromone loads of 1 or 10 mg/dispenser were significantly less attractive to males than 0.1 mg/dispenser. The effect of aging o f the dispenser (loaded with 1 mg pheromone) in the field up trapping efficiency was significant. Captures in traps baited with 4- and 5-wee k-old septa were significantly lower (by 24%) than those in traps bait ed with 1-week-old septa. The fairly slow loss of attractancy exhibite d by rubber septa indicates that septa may be kept in traps for at lea st 5 weeks. The release rate of the pheromone from the Israeli dispens ers (1 mg loaded) was measured in a flow system. The emission of the p heromone decreased gradually as a function of age, correlating well wi th the lower trap catches of field-aged septa. Release rates were redu ced by 56%, 70% and 84% after 4, 5 and 6 weeks, repectively. The nonst icky IPS trap was as effective in capturing the European vine moth mal es as the sticky Pherocon 1C trap. The possibility of using the nonsti cky, nonsaturating and easy-to-handle IPS traps may lead to better and easier monitoring of the European vine moth populations.