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CODLING MOTH: A PILOT PROGRAM OF CONTROL BY STERILE INSECT RELEASE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

M. D. Proverbs
Affiliation:
Research Station, Agriculture Canada, Summerland, British Columbia V0H 1Z0
J. R. Newton
Affiliation:
Research Station, Agriculture Canada, Summerland, British Columbia V0H 1Z0
C. J. Campbell
Affiliation:
Research Station, Agriculture Canada, Summerland, British Columbia V0H 1Z0

Abstract

Codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), control by sterile insect release (SIR) was assessed in 320–526 ha of apples and pears in the Similkameen Valley, B.C., from 1976 to 1978. In preparation for SIR, the moth population was first reduced to low numbers by removal of neglected trees in 1972 and by chemical sprays in 1975. Sterile (35 krad) male and female moths were released in each orchard 2 or 3 times weekly from 1 May until early September. A total of 23,600 sterile moths/ha was released in 1976, 36,500 in 1977, and 31,800 in 1978. Populations of sterile (marked) and wild moths were monitored by sex pheromone traps, and damage was assessed by fruit examination at harvest. Control was very good except for a few orchards in which overwintered populations were too high to achieve adequate overflooding with sterile moths. Damage exceeded the economic threshold (0.5%) in only 1 of 86 treated orchards in 1976, in 6 of 193 orchards in 1977, and in 0 of 157 orchards in 1978. Results in 32 orchards showed that when wild populations are brought close to extinction all codling moth control measures can be omitted for 2 or more years depending on degree of orchard isolation. Omission of codling moth sprays from 1976 to 1978 did not result in any important change in population levels of other apple pests. Cost of control by SIR was ca. $225/ha per year vs. ca. $95 for chemical control.

Résumé

De 1976 à 1978, on a évalué l'effet d'un lâcher de papillons stériles (SIR) sur les populations du carpocapse de la pomme, Cydia pomonella (L.), dans des vergers de pommes et de poires de 320 à 526 ha de la vallée de Similkameen en Colombie-Britannique. En prévision du lâcher, on a d'abord réduit considérablement les populations de carpocapses par l'enlèvement des arbres négligés en 1972 et par des pulvérisations chimiques en 1975. On a ensuite lâché des mâles et des femelles stérilisés (35 krads) dans chaque verger 2 ou 3 fois par semaine, du 1er mai au début de septembre. On a ainsi lâché au total 23,600 papillons stériles/ha en 1976, 36,500 en 1977 et 31,800 en 1978. Les populations de papillons stériles (marqués) et sauvages ont été étudiées par piégeage aux phéromones et les dégâts ont été évalués par examen des fruits à la récolte. La technique s'avère très efficace, sauf pour quelques vergers où les populations hivernées sont trop importantes pour assurer une invasion adéquate des papillons stériles. Les dégâts ont dépassé le seuil économique (0,5%) dans 1 seul des 86 vergers traités en 1976, dans 6 des 193 vergers en 1977 et dans 0 des 157 vergers en 1978. Les résultats obtenus de 32 vergers révèlent que lorsque les populations indigènes sont réduites à la quasi-extinction, tous les moyens de lutte au carpocapse peuvent être laissés de côté pendant 2 ans ou plus selon le degré d'isolement des vergers. L'absence de traitement chimique contre le carpocapse de 1976 à 1978 n'a pas entraîné de modification importante dans les populations d'autres ravageurs des pommiers. Le coût du SIR est de $225 ($CAN), contre $95 pour le traitement chimique.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1982

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