Control of codling moth Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera tortricidae) with EcoTape pheromone dispensers

A mating disruption approach using high densities of pheromone point sources has been developed for codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera Tortricidae), control. The EcoTape® device comprises a continuous adhesive tape integrated with 3cm length dispensers at a separation of 0.6m, loaded with 2.5mg codlemone. Thus, in comparison with standard mating disruption, the content of dispensers is strongly reduced, whereas the density of point sources is increased (2,000 or 4,000 points/ha), with the purpose of increasing the competition between natural and synthetic sources. The release rate of new and field aged dispensers, measured directly by solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME), decreased over time but at the end of the season was still more potent than a calling codling moth female. Dispensers elicited close-range approaches in a wind tunnel irrespective of their field age. Traps lured with aged EcoTape dispensers were also able to catch a number of males in the field throughout the season comparable to that of traps loaded with reference dispensers. The results of field trials (2004-2007) showed that codling moth control can be obtained applying EcoTape dispensers. Our experiments demonstrated that EcoTape dispensers are a useful tool for efficient CM control throughout the season under the climatic conditions of the Trento Province (North Italy) and may satisfy some of the prerequisites for producing false-trail following effects.