Where/When Does Mating Disruption Work?Art Agnello, Cornell UniversityRandall Paddock, Paddock Agricultural ServicesDeborah Breth, CCE-LOF

Did you use mating disruption pheromones in 2009?

1 2

71%

29%

1. Yes2. No

Panel will answer several questions…•What pests do we have good pheromone products to incorporate into IPM programs?

•What situations are the best fit for pheromones?

•How do we best implement mating disruption for specific pests?

•Can we reduce insecticide applications when implementing mating disruption?

What pests?

•220 acres of apple – CM and OFM▫4 years experience

•170 acres in peaches – OFM▫10 years experience

•60 acres in peaches – PTB and LPTB▫2 years

RCPaddock

What products used?

•7 apple growers – ▫mainly Isomate CM/OFM TT – for 1-4 seasons▫Checkmate Duel – in 2009

▫Puffers in 2009

▫Checkmate CM-F and OFM-F (sprayables) for 3 seasons

RCPaddock

Which pests are a good fit for IPM programs Which pests are a good fit for IPM programs that incorporate pheromone products?that incorporate pheromone products?

Oriental Fruit Moth (especially in stone fruits) • very susceptible to mating disruption • both hand-applied and sprayable formulations are affordable and

very effective- Hand applied: Isomate M-100- Sprayable: Checkmate OFM-F; SPLAT OFM; Puffer OFM

• combined with CM pheromone in several products- Checkmate CM/OFM Duel; Isomate-CM/OFM TT

• Borer Moth Species

Stone Fruits- Peachtree Borer/Lesser Peachtree Borer:

Isomate LPTB; Isomate PTB Dual (just registered)Apples- Dogwood Borer?

Isomate LPTB; Isomate DWB (soon?)

Panel will answer several questions…•What pests do we have good pheromone products to incorporate into IPM programs?

•What situations are the best fit for pheromones?

•How do we best implement mating disruption for specific pests?

•Can we reduce insecticide applications when implementing mating disruption?

Why Borers are a Good Fit for Pheromones -Why Borers are a Good Fit for Pheromones -Standard Chemical Control Recommendations: Standard Chemical Control Recommendations:

Trunk SpraysTrunk Sprays• Borers require “extra consideration”; fall outside of normal pest program

- occur sporadically- mode of attack doesn’t lend itself to treatment with cover sprays- have to protect point of attack (trunks) with direct insecticide spray

• Lorsban (usual material of choice) infiltrates burrknots, lasts a long time in wood, giving both eradicant and protectant control of borers for the entire season when applied as early as HIG

• Alternative products (pyrethroids, Thionex) similar; may need re-sprays

However,• Dedicated trunk sprays (i.e., using a

handgun) are difficult and time-consuming; therefore, most growers don’t do them (or don’t do them well)

• Threat of losing Lorsban with increased regulatory scrutiny in the future

In what situations do you see the best fit for pheromones?•Do you have damage?

▫Evidence of worms (worm holes) in processing fruit

▫Loads rejected for worms▫Seeing damage during harvest▫Damage has driven our decision to use Mating disruption

RCPaddock

In what situations do you see the best fit for pheromones?

•Why do you have damage?▫Pesticide resistance?▫Poor choice of materials?▫Inadequate spray schedule?▫Poor spray coverage?▫Damage builds up over time?

•All of the above issues can be addressed with mating disruption.

RCPaddock

In what situations do you see the best fit for pheromones?•Blocks size matters

▫Mating disruption is intended in large blocks, in the Western States, disrupted blocks are 100 acres. “Area Wide”

▫NY, block size is smaller which has forced us to try MD on smaller blocks.

▫Started in peach in blocks ranging from 10-65 acres, now in 3-4 acres?

▫For CM – started with 20-acre blocks. ▫Shape matters! RCPaddock

In what situation do you see the best fit for pheromones?

•Specific fits:▫OFM in peach, use MD on any peach

block where OFM is present.

▫CM/OFM in apples, if you currently have internal lep damage, consider MD

▫PTB/LPTB starting in 2nd leaf blocksRCPaddock

Panel will answer several questions…•What pests do we have good pheromone products to incorporate into IPM programs?

•What situations do you see the best fit for pheromones?

•How do we best implement mating disruption for specific pests?

•Can we reduce insecticide applications when implementing mating disruption?

RCPaddock

How do we best implement mating disruption for specific pests?

•OFM in peach – ▫Isomate M100 twist ties at 100/acre▫Apply in mid-June before second flight▫Double up on borders▫Install as high in canopy as you can reach from

ground▫Monitor with pheromone traps▫Scout growing terminals after each generation▫If damage in terminals or fruit, spray

insecticideRCPaddock

How do we best implement mating disruption for specific pests?

CM/OFM in apple– 3 yr program• Year 1:

▫Isomate CM/OFM TT or Checkmate Duel at 200/acre. Full rate!

▫Apply pink to early bloom.▫Double up on borders▫Install in top 2-3 feet of canopy▫Continue complete spray program, 2 sprays

per generation▫Monitor with pheromone traps▫Scout fruit after each generation

RCPaddock

CM/OFM in apple– 3 yr program (cont.)•Year 2:

▫Use full rate of dispensers▫Reduce insecticide program to 1 spray per

generation▫Monitor and treat for other pests – aphids,

plum curculio, leafrollers, apple maggot, etc.•Year 3:

▫If block is clean after Year 2, eliminate all insecticides specifically targeted at CM/OFM

▫Reduce dispenser rate by 25%▫Continue to monitor. Don’t want surprises!

RCPaddock

PTB/LPTB Mating Disruption

PTB/LPTB Mating Disruption

PTB/LPTB Pheromone Trap CatchesPTB/LPTB Pheromone Trap Catches

0

5

10

15

20

6/9 6/23 7/7 7/21 8/4 8/18 9/1

Furber 2000

Avg

. N

o./

Trap

0

5

10

15

20

6/9 6/23 7/7 7/21 8/4 8/18 9/1

Herman 2000

Avg

. N

o./

Trap

0

1

2

3

4

5

5/20 6/5 6/20 7/5 7/21 8/5 8/20

Furber 2001

LPTB Disrupted PTB Disrupted

LPTB Check PTB Check

Avg

. N

o./

Trap

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

5/20 6/5 6/20 7/5 7/21 8/5 8/20

Herman 2001

LPTB Disrupted PTB Disrupted

LPTB Check PTB Check

Avg

. N

o./

Trap

AnAlternative

forDogwood

Borer

AnAlternative

forDogwood

Borer The active ingredient of Isomate Lesser Peachtree Borer pheromone

dispensers (E, Z - 3,13-ODDA) has been identified as an antagonist to DWB males — it repels them.

When DWB pheromone is synthesized in the lab, this a.i. occurs as a contaminant; most methods available for preventing this contamination (Zhang et al.) are very expensive, so developing a commercial DWB pheromone dispenser may take some time.

Leskey et al. (USDA-WV) evaluated pheromone-based management strategies for dogwood borer in commercial orchards in 2008.

WV trial showed nearly complete trap shutdown using Isomate LPTB pheromone dispensers against DWB.

The active ingredient of Isomate Lesser Peachtree Borer pheromone dispensers (E, Z - 3,13-ODDA) has been identified as an antagonist to DWB males — it repels them.

When DWB pheromone is synthesized in the lab, this a.i. occurs as a contaminant; most methods available for preventing this contamination (Zhang et al.) are very expensive, so developing a commercial DWB pheromone dispenser may take some time.

Leskey et al. (USDA-WV) evaluated pheromone-based management strategies for dogwood borer in commercial orchards in 2008.

WV trial showed nearly complete trap shutdown using Isomate LPTB pheromone dispensers against DWB.

LPTB female DWB male

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

6/5

6/12

6/19

6/26 7/

37/

107/

177/

247/

31 8/7

8/14

8/21

8/28 9/

49/

11

Date

# m

oth

s

Trt N

Trt C

Trt S

CK N

CK C

CK S

Hilltop - 2009Hilltop - 2009

Active infestation of apple burrknots in Isomate-LPTB Treated and Untreated

Trees - 2008

Active infestation of apple burrknots in Isomate-LPTB Treated and Untreated

Trees - 2008

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

Rich. Rd. Dutch St. Hilltop Rich. Rd. Dutch St. Hilltop

LorsbanIsomateCheck

Mea

n #

infe

sted

bur

rkno

ts

Pro

port

ion

infe

sted

bur

rkno

ts1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0

Number infested Proportion infested

0 0 0 0 0 0** **

**

** **

**

** **

Active infestation of apple burrknots in Isomate-LPTB Treated and Untreated

Trees - 2009

Active infestation of apple burrknots in Isomate-LPTB Treated and Untreated

Trees - 2009

0

0.04

0.08

0.12

0.16

0.2

0.24

0.28

0.32

Richardson Rd. Dutch St. Hilltop

IsomateCheck

Pro

port

ion

infe

sted

bur

rkno

ts

*

**

Panel will answer several questions…•What pests do we have good pheromone products to incorporate into IPM programs?

•What situations do you see the best fit for pheromones?

•How do we best implement mating disruption for specific pests?

•Can we reduce insecticide applications when implementing mating disruption?

Can we reduce insecticide applications when implementing mating disruption?

• OFM (single species of concern in stone fruits): Don’t need as many sprays (or any? Depends on pressure)

• PTB/LPTB: - Can completely replace sprays - Tactic of choice

• Dogwood Borer:- Not absolutely sure, but early indications are good

New Developments: - Isomate-LPTB to be phased out (can probably use “Dual”)- New “true blend” DWB dispenser eventually available

Can we reduce insecticide applications when implementing mating disruption?

• OFM (single species of concern in stone fruits): Don’t need as many sprays (or any? Depends on pressure)

• PTB/LPTB: - Can completely replace sprays - Tactic of choice

• Dogwood Borer:- Not absolutely sure, but early indications are good

New Developments: - Isomate-LPTB to be phased out (can probably use “Dual”)- New “true blend” DWB dispenser eventually available

4 Year Summary –Isomate CM/OFM TT

ECB

Sprayable Checkmate - Morrisey

2007 2008 2009MD No MD MD No MD MD No

MDCheckmate CM-F

5 0 6 0 6 0

Checkmate OFM-F

4 0 4 0 4 0

OP 3 5 2 2 2 4*Pyreth 1 1 0 0 0 0Neo 5 2 2 2 1 2Del/Alt - - 2 2 0 0IGR 1 0 1 1 0 0$/acre 495 156 372 181 214 155% damage

1.0 (.3)

7.2 (1.2)

0.6 (.2)

3.8 (1.4)

1.2 (.2) 0.2 (0)

$180

Summary•We have effective pheromones for mating

disruption for:▫ Oriental fruit moth, codling moth, and

dogwood borer in apples▫Oriental fruit moth, peach tree borer and

lesser peachtree borer in stone fruit▫Mating disruption will turn a high pressure

block into a low pressure block▫Sprayables can be effective if maintained

during active flight periods, and reapplied after rain.

▫Dispensers provide more consistent trap shut down.

Summary•Can you reduce insecticides under mating

disruption?▫Yes, eventually, the second season▫Eliminate late season sprays depending on

apple maggot pressure, border sprays…▫Improve control in high pressure blocks.▫More insecticides are applied in non-

disrupted blocks but still more damage results.

▫Theoretically, reduce “sting” damage in insecticide only blocks under high pressure.

▫Increase accessibility to work in orchards.

Summary

If you have high insect pressure and poor spray coverage, insecticides alone will still result in damage from internal leps pests.

Improve spray coverage or use mating disruption.

What kind of pheromone repels Dogwood borer?

1 2 3

13% 11%

76%1. Oriental fruit

moth2. Lesser peach

tree borer3. Codling moth