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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #309802
Title: Disruption of the leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) in citrus: effect of blend and placement height, longevity of disruption and emission profile of a new dispenser

Author
item Lapointe, Stephen
item KEATHLEY, C - Former ARS Employee
item STELINSKI, L - University Of Florida
item URRUTIA, W - Isca Technologies, Inc
item MAFRA-NETO, A - Isca Technologies, Inc

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/24/2015
Publication Date: 6/1/2015
Citation: Lapointe, S.L., Keathley, C.P., Stelinski, L.L., Urrutia, W.H., Mafra-Neto, A. 2015. Disruption of the leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) in citrus: effect of blend and placement height, longevity of disruption and emission profile of a new dispenser. Florida Entomologist. 98(2):742-748.

Interpretive Summary: Recent efforts to disrupt mating of the leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), a global pest of citrus, have focused on the use of SPLAT™ (ISCA Technologies), a flowable wax emulsion intended to serve as a slow-release matrix for pheromones. Early success with this approach was overshadowed by expense and difficulty of application, and variation in wax component chemistry that contributed to reduced performance measured as the longevity of pheromone emission in the field. Solid rubber dispensers (DCEPT CLM™, ISCA Technologies, Inc.) loaded with a 3:1 blend of the major components of P. citrella sex pheromone, provided excellent disruption of trap catch in commercial citrus orchards for periods exceeding 30 weeks. A single component alone worked as well or better than the 3:1 blend. The height of dispensers placed by hand in the tree canopy had a significant effect on trap shutdown. Dispensers placed low (0.6 m) in the canopy resulted in a reduction of trap shutdown in the upper third (>3 m) of the canopy suggesting that the net movement of pheromone molecules was downward during the period of active moth flight. Although moth flight appeared equivalent among the heights tested, placement of dispensers higher in the canopy may be more effective given the downward movement of pheromone. These studies suggest that season-long control can be attained in citrus with a single application of a hand-applied dispenser and provide recommendations for their application.

Technical Abstract: Recent efforts to disrupt mating of the leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), a global pest of citrus, have focused on the use of SPLAT™ (ISCA Technologies), a flowable wax emulsion intended to serve as a slow-release matrix for pheromones. Early success with this approach was overshadowed by expense and difficulty of application, and variation in wax component chemistry that contributed to reduced longevity of pheromone emission in the field. Solid rubber dispensers (DCEPT CLM™, ISCA Technologies, Inc.) loaded with a 3:1 blend of (Z,Z,E)-7,11,13-hexadecatrienal and (Z,Z)-7,11-hexadecadienal, the major components of P. citrella sex pheromone, provided excellent disruption of trap catch in commercial citrus orchards for periods exceeding 30 weeks. The triene component alone worked as well or better than the 3:1 blend. The height of dispensers placed by hand in the tree canopy had a significant effect on trap shutdown. Dispensers placed low (0.6 m) in the canopy resulted in a reduction of trap shutdown in the upper third (>3 m) of the canopy suggesting that the net movement of pheromone molecules was downward during the period of active moth flight. Although moth flight appeared equivalent among the heights tested, placement of dispensers higher in the canopy appears more effective given this downward movement of pheromone plumes. These studies suggest that season-long disruption can be attained in citrus with a single application of a hand-applied dispenser and provide recommendations for their application.