Where/When Does Mating Disruption Work?

1. Where/When Does Mating Disruption Work? Art Agnello, Cornell University Randall Paddock, Paddock Agricultural Services Deborah Breth, CCE-LOF

2. Did you use mating disruption pheromones in 2009? • Yes • No

3. 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?

4. 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

5. 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

6. Which pests are a good fit for IPM programs 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?)

7. 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?

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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 blocks RCPaddock

13. 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

14. 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 insecticide RCPaddock

15. 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

16. 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

17. PTB/LPTB Mating Disruption

18. PTB/LPTB Pheromone Trap Catches

19. DWB male AnAlternativeforDogwoodBorer LPTB female • 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.

20. Hilltop - 2009

21. Active infestation of apple burrknots in Isomate-LPTB Treated and Untreated Trees - 2008

22. Active infestation of apple burrknots in Isomate-LPTB Treated and Untreated Trees - 2009

23. 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?

24. 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

25. 4 Year Summary –Isomate CM/OFM TT ECB

26. Sprayable Checkmate - Morrisey $180

27. 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.

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. What kind of pheromone repels Dogwood borer? • Oriental fruit moth • Lesser peach tree borer • Codling moth