Attraction of the Invasive Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) to Traps Baited with Semiochemical Stimuli Across the United States

A recent identification of the two-component aggregation pheromone of the invasive stink bug species, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), in association with a synergist, has greatly improved the ability to accurately monitor the seasonal abundance and distribution of this destructive pest. We evaluated the attraction of H. halys to black pyramid traps baited with lures containing the pheromone alone, the synergist methyl (2E,4E,6Z)-decatrienoate (MDT) alone, and the two lures in combination. Traps were deployed around areas of agricultural production including fruit orchards, vegetables, ornamentals, or row crops in Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia from mid-April to mid-October, 2012 and 2013. We confirmed that H. halys adults and nymphs are attracted to the aggregation pheromone season long, but that attraction is significantly increased with the addition of the synergist MDT. H. halys adults were detected in April with peak captures of overwintering adults in mid- to late May. The largest adult captures were late in the summer, typically in early September. Nymphal captures began in late May and continued season long. Total captures declined rapidly in autumn and ceased by mid-October. Captures were greatest at locations in the Eastern Inland region, followed by those in the Eastern Coastal Plain and Pacific Northwest. Importantly, regardless of location in the United States, all mobile life stages of H. halys consistently responded to the combination of H. halys aggregation pheromone and the synergist throughout the entire season, suggesting that these stimuli will be useful tools to monitor for H. halys in managed system

Effects of pheromone loading, dispenser age, and trap height on pheromone trap catches of the Oriental fruit moth in apple orchards

The effects of field aging (0-28 days) and pheromone loading rate on the longevity of red rubber septa loaded with the sex pheromone blend of the oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta (Busck), were evaluated in North Carolina apple orchards in 2002. Separate field tests examined the influence of trap height and pheromone loading rate of rubber septa on trap catches of adult G. molesta males in an abandoned orchard. The loss of the major pheromone component, (Z)-8-dodecenyl acetate (Z8-12:OAc), from red rubber septa over a 4-week period exhibited a relatively constant release rate with 30, 100 and 300 mu g pheromone. Trap catch was significantly higher in pheromone traps placed in the upper canopy than in those in the lower canopy. Pheromone traps baited with 100-mu g lures caught more moths compared with those loaded with 300 mu g. There was no apparent relationship between pheromone trap catch and septa age, with trap catch appearing to be primarily a function of G. molesta population density

Effects of application rate and interval on the efficacy of sprayable pheromone for mating disruption of the oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta

The efficacy of microencapsulated sprayable pheromone was evaluated at different application rates and intervals for mating disruption of the oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck), in apple orchards during 2002. The following treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications: (i) a low rate of pheromone (6.2 g a.i. ha(-1)) applied at 14-day intervals, (ii) a medium rate of pheromone (12.4 g a.i. ha(-1)) applied at 28-day intervals, (iii) a high rate of pheromone (24.7 g a.i. ha(-1)) applied at 28- day intervals, and (iv) a non-pheromone control (insecticides only). The combination of a single insecticide application against first generation G. molesta at petal fall with one pheromone application each for the second, third and fourth generations at 12.4-24.7 g a.i. ha-1 successfully controlled low populations. Pheromone-treated blocks had significantly lower trap catches than those in the insecticide-treated control blocks. Among pheromone treatments, significantly more moths were caught in the 6.2 g compared with the 12.4 and 24.7 g rates. Fruit damage was < 1% at harvest and there were no significant differences among treatments. Low rate frequent applications of sprayable formulation appeared to be effective under low pest pressure but efficacy declined with increasing populations. Further studies are needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach under higher pest pressure

Evaluation of extended-season mating disruption of the Oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lep., Tortricidae) in apples

Oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lep., Tortricidae) has recently become a key pest of apples throughout the eastern USA. Pheromone-mediated mating disruption of Oriental fruit moth was successfully used in North Carolina apple orchards in the past few years. However, low levels of late-season fruit damage occurred in some orchards treated in late May with hand-applied pheromone dispensers because of inadequate dispenser longevity. To investigate alternative pheromone application schedules for extended mating disruption control, the following pheromone treatments were compared with conventional insecticides in Henderson County (NC) in 2002: late May application of hand-applied dispensers; late June application of hand-applied dispensers; late May application of hand-applied dispensers supplemented with a late August application of sprayable pheromone dispensers; late May application of hand-applied dispensers which have a longer activity period; and conventional insecticides as a control. All treatments were sprayed with an insecticide at petal fall in late April for thinning and for control of the first generation Oriental fruit moth adults. Pheromone trap catches were significantly reduced in all mating disruption blocks compared with conventional insecticide blocks. Among pheromone treatments, the highest trap captures were recorded in the delayed hand-applied dispenser treatment in June before treatment. However, the mean percentage fruit damage did not vary with timing of application of hand-applied dispensers and the type of pheromone dispenser used. Clearly, the combination of each mating disruption treatment with insecticide application against first generation Oriental fruit moth was as effective as the conventional insecticide treatment under moderate population pressure