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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #193865
Title: ANOTHER TOOL TO MANAGE CODLING MOTH: ULV GROUND PHEROMONE SPRAYS

Author
item Knight, Alan

Submitted to: Good Fruit Grower
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/25/2006
Publication Date: 6/10/2006
Citation: Knight, A.L. 2006. Another tool to manage codling moth: ulv ground pheromone sprays. Good Fruit Grower 57(7):25-27.

Interpretive Summary: Codling moth is a key worldwide pest of apples and pears. Its sex pheromone has been used with various formulations to disrupt mating and control populations. Previously the use of a sprayable formulation that consisted of microencapsulated sex pheromone has not been effective. Research was conducted to improve the deposition and retention of microcapsules to improve its performance. Reducing the water volume from 100 to 1.25 gallons per acre (ultra low volume, ULV) and dropping the spray pressure from 200 to 30 pounds-per-square inch increased the deposition of capsules 6 – 10-fold. The efficacy of this formulation was improved and was shown to be comparable to hand-applied dispensers. Studies are also examining the application of insecticides using this ULV approach.

Technical Abstract: The application of a microencapsulated formulation of codling moth’s sex pheromone in a low-pressure ultra low volume (ULV) application (1.25 gallons per acre) versus with the standard air blast method was found to deposit 6-10 times more capsules in the canopy and to significantly improve the performance of this product. Levels of injury in the ULV treatment were 70 % lower than in the air blast-treated research plots in 2004. During 2005, the commercial use of the ULV program in replicated apple and pear orchards. A 5-spray program was as effective as the use of Isomate-C dispensers in both crops. Ground ULV applications can also be used to apply insecticides alone or in combination with pheromone. Studies in 2005 found that a 6-spray program of Asana XL was highly effective for CM, > 98% control. Further improvements in the application of microcapsules to deposit more capsules and increase the clustering of capsules are needed. Integrated programs using combinations of pheromones and insecticides will be developed using this approach.