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Investigating dormant‐season application of pheromone in citrus to control overwintering and spring populations of Phyllocnistis citrella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)
Author(s) -
Keathley Craig P,
Stelinski Lukasz L,
Lapointe Stephen L
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.4167
Subject(s) - gracillariidae , overwintering , lepidoptera genitalia , biology , spring (device) , botany , pheromone trap , engineering , mechanical engineering
Abstract BACKGROUND The leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton, reproduces on leaf flush during winter. Deployment of pheromone during winter could suppress moth populations in spring and summer more than a spring application alone. We tested the primary pheromone component of P. citrella , ( Z , Z , E )‐7,11,13‐hexadecatrienal, released gradually over several months from elastomeric dispensers in a citrus grove in 6.4 ha main plots in winter and/or 3.2 ha subplots in spring (834 mg triene ha −1 ) and evaluated moth catch and leaf mining. RESULTS After winter treatment, dispensers provided >85% disruption of male moth catch in traps for 37 weeks, and after spring treatment they provided >92% disruption for 26 weeks, but there was only a 12% reduction in leaf infestation in spring. Two applications were no better than only a single application in spring. Disruption of moth catch was weaker in treated plots where traps were placed high (3.1 m) rather than low (1.6 m) in the tree canopy. CONCLUSION Dispensers provided effective and persistent disruption of male catch in pheromone‐baited monitoring traps but were minimally effective in reducing leaf infestation by P. citrella . Winter application of pheromone did not reduce leaf mining in spring compared with spring application alone. Tops of trees may have provided a refuge for mating. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.