Biological control monitoring of orchard pests under mating disruption treatment

Developments in IPM have allowed growers to control economically important pests through the application of species-specific sex pheromones. Insects like the Oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck), and the codling moth, Cydia pomonella, have been controlled in orchards using this mating disruption method.

The use of sex pheromones allows growers to modify their insecticide applications accordingly. These modifications may affect the extent of biological control within an orchard. Differences in sprays, timings, and quantities could suggest a difference in natural enemy abundance or secondary pest succession.

Previous assessments on the effects of mating disruptions on C. pomonella and G. molesta have been conducted in New Jersey Orchards. Further research into the effects on their populations will be completed, along with the populations of several secondary pests, San Jose scale, Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (Comstock), and the Wooly apple aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum (Comstock). These species will be monitored along with their natural enemies for the effects on biological control using yellow sticky traps, and compared between orchard plots using standard treatment and mating disruption treatment.