Mating Disruption: Key element of a successful building block strategy against Cydia pomonella in organic apple production (BIOFRUITNET Practice Abstract)
The codling moth (Cydia pomonella) is the most important and most frequent pest in organic fruit growing. The larvae of the codling moth damage apples in particular and can cause considerable crop losses.
Solution
The confusion technique can be considered as an elementary component of codling moth control. The most important condition for successful control is a low initial population.
Description
The pheromone confusion technique is a residue-free and beneficial insect-friendly method with high efficacy in large-scale cultivation and low infestation pressure.
Practical recommendations
• Pheromone confusion as a biotechnological process
• Attraction mechanisms based on sex pheromones
• A suitable method for codling moth regulation, especially in larger, adjacent plantations
• Type of dispensers
• Aerosol dispensers (approx. two puffers per hectare)
• Passive dispensers (500-1,000 dispensers per hectare)
• Dispensers should be applied shortly before codling moth flight begins (Flight control with pheromone traps)
• Regulation of moth flight with dispensers: regular release of sex pheromone over the entire codling moth flight period is crucial for treatment success
• Weather conditions have a decisive influence on the dispensing behaviour of the dispensers
• Distribute dispensers regularly within the orchard and double the amount in the last outer row or along the fence around the plantation.
• Suspend the dispensers in the upper third of the crown, otherwise, the efficiency will be low
• Apply the total number of dispensers per hectare; otherwise, the effect will be reduced
• Combined dispensers are available (effect against fruit peel and codling moth)
• Collect and dispose of the empty passive dispensers (at the latest when digging up the old plant), as they are very difficult to decompose in the soil
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In order to use the comment function, you must register with the third-party provider "Disqus".
When you activate this function, your browser establishes a direct connection with the servers of the third-party provider. We would like to point out that data is transmitted to the third-party provider after activation, and the latter may set cookies that can also be used for analysis and marketing purposes. For more information, please refer to our privacy policy.
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