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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Commodity Protection and Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #136662
Title: MATING DISRUPTION FOR CONTROL OF THE INDIANMEAL MOTH IN A WAREHOUSE

Author
item Burks, Charles - Chuck

Submitted to: Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Research Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/30/2002
Publication Date: 11/3/2002
Citation: BURKS, C.S. MATING DISRUPTION FOR CONTROL OF THE INDIANMEAL MOTH IN A WAREHOUSE. METHYL BROMIDE ALTERNATIVES AND EMISSIONS RESEARCH CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS. 2002.

Interpretive Summary: A timed-release pheromone mating disruption system was tested for control of the Indianmeal moth in a warehouse containing organically certified warehouse dried beans. The prevalence of Indianmeal moth was compared with a conventional warehouse protected with a pyrethrins fogging system, and with a breezeway which did not receive any protective treatment. At the time of the start of the pheromone treatments the prevalence of the Indianmeal moth in the organic storage area was higher, but after sanitation of a localized outbreak and the start of pheromone treatment the prevalence of moths in the pheromone-treated area was comparable to that of the area protected with insecticidal fogging, and lower than that of the breezeway. These results suggest that, at least for sub-optimal food materials such as dried beans, mating disruption can be as effective as insecticidal fogging systems in suppression of the Indianmeal moth.

Technical Abstract: Timed release of (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate using Michigan State Microsprayer system was tested for control of the Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella, in an organically certified dried bean warehouse. Moth prevalence was monitored by three methods: 1) pheromone baited flight traps; 2) oviposition bait stations containing laboratory bran diet; and 3) unmated females were placed out, and subsequently recovered and dissected to determine the presence or absence of spermataphore(s). Three warehouse areas were examined: 1) an organically-certified storage area; 2) a conventional storage area protected by a pyrethrins fogging system, and 3) a breezeway area which received no treatment for suppression of Indianmeal moth populations. By all three detection criteria, prevalence was comparable between the organic and conventional storage areas, and lower in these areas compared to the breezeway.