Mating disruption for the control of the olive moth, Prays oleae (Bern) (Lep., Yponomeutidae) with the major sex pheromone component

Mating disruption to control the olive moth Prays oleae (Bern) was tested f rom 1992 to 1996 in olive groves in Greece. The major sex pheromone compone nt (Z)-7-tetradecenal was formulated in beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and pol yvinyl chloride (PVC) polymers. Pheromone trap catches were reduced by up t o 96-100% in the mating-disruption plots. During the first year of mating d isruption a treatment with Bacillus thuringiensis (var. kurstaki) (Bt) was applied to reduce the first generation or larvae. Fruit damage in the matin g disruption plots was lower compared with the fruit damage in Pt, insectic ide and untreated plots. In high fruiting years, the proportion of fruit da mage was lower than in low fruiting years. Mating disruption applied in the same olive grove over several years progressively reduced the olive moth p opulation from year to year.