Control of codling moth, Cydia pomonella L., by an attract and kill formulation

Pierre-Joseph Charmillot and Dieter Hofer¹

• Introduction
• Materials and methods
• Results
• Conclusion

Key words - sex pheromone, attract and kill, Cydia pomonella, Tortricidae, Lepidoptera

Introduction

The attract and kill technique developed by Ciba (Sirene¨ CM) consists of a viscous formulation containing 0.16% codlemone, (E,E)-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol, to attract the males and 6.0% permethrine to kill them. Males contacting a drop die within hours. Thus, reproduction is reduced. The formulation is applied twice per season, by hand with a specially developed application system (Hofer & Brassel 1992).

Materials and methods
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Two trials were carried out in 1995 in isolated orchards to control codling moth by applying 1200 and 2700 drops/ha. An average drop was 0.1 ml in size and contained 0.16 mg of codlemone and 6 mg of permethrine.

Another trial was carried out in 1995 to study the effect of 100 versus 5000 drops/ha and the addition or respectively lack of an insecticide in the formulation. The trial was evaluated based on male trap catches and copulation of tethered females.

Seven trials were carried out in 1996 in isolated orchards to control codling moth by applying 1600 and 5000 drops/ha. An average drop was 0.05 ml in size and contained 0.08 mg of codlemone and 3 mg of permethrine.

Results

In the two trials to control codling moth in 1995, the larval attack of codling moth on fruit was below a threshold of 1% during all the season and also at harvest. The hibernating population stayed at a low level.

In the other trial using drops without insecticide, trap catches were reduced by 50% compared to the untreated check, independent whether 100 or 5000 drops/ha were applied. At both drop densities the copulation of tethered females was practically not reduced. Attract and kill formulations with insecticide reduced trap catches by 55% and 94% and copulation of tethered females by 54% and 84% at dose rates of 100 and 5000 drops/ha, respectively. Detailed results have been published (Charmillot et al. 1996).

In two orchards where attract and kill technique was applied for the second year, the larval attack of codling moth on fruit and the hibernating population was at a very low level. Among the five orchards where attract and kill was applied for the first time, a single plot with much too high an initial population (more than 20% fruit damage at 1995Õ harvest) had to be sprayed curatively. In the other four trials, fruit damage at harvest was 0.24%, 0.32%, 1.1% and 1.14%, respectively, and the density of hibernating larvae, as determined by corrugated bands, was lower than 1 larva/tree.

Conclusion
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These trials show that Sirene¨ CM in fact attracts and kills the males and therefore has a different mode of action from the disruption technique and is an effective agent in controlling codling moth.

References

Charmillot PJ, Pasquier D, Scalco A, Hofer D (1996) Essais de lutte contre le carpocapse Cydia pomonella  L. par un procŽdŽ attracticide. Mitt schweiz ent Ges 69, 431-439

Hofer D, Brassel J (1992) "Attract and kill" to control Cydia pomonella  and Pectinophora gossypiella. Bulletin IOBC wprs 15(5), 36-39