Codling moth (Cydia pomonella) mating disruption outcomes in apple orchards

Abstract

New Zealand apple growers need to produce crops that satisfy conflicting export market requirements Some markets want pestfree fruit while others demand residuefree fruit Pheromone mating disruption combined with the judicious use of insecticides enables crops to meet both demands This study in 14 Hawkes Bay apple orchards showed that seasonal pheromone trap catch was reduced by 70 from 401 codling moths/trap in the season before mating disruption was introduced to 117 moths/trap over the subsequent five seasons In the same period insecticide use reduced from 59 applications/season in 2006 07 to 23 in 200708 and 37 since 200809 The incidence of larvae in fruit where mating disruption operated averaged 001 which was lower than in orchards using insecticides only Damage increased from 200809 with greater reliance on codling moth granulosis virus over residual insecticides Nevertheless mating disruption with 34 insecticide sprays controlled codling moth to the high standard needed