Relationship between efficacy of mating disruption and gypsy moth density

ABSTRACT

Mating disruption tactics involve the deployment of pheromones to interfere with mate finding behaviors in insect populations. This management strategy is the dominant one used against expanding gypsy moth populations in the United States, and historically it has been assumed to be most effective against low-density populations. Operationally, mating disruption is used in areas where the season-long trap catch is <30 males/trap, however the maximum population density at which mating disruption is effective remains unknown. We analysed historical gypsy moth mating disruption treatment data from 2000 to 2010, and used this information to guide the mating disruption field studies conducted from 2012 to 2015 against artificially-created populations of various densities, from 0 to 116 males/trap/day. We observed that mating disruption tactics at a dose of 15 g AI/ha were effective against gypsy moth populations with a season-long trap catch of at least 115 males/trap. This research highlights the utility of mating disruption in higher gypsy moth densities than what is currently recommended in management programs.

KEYWORDS:

• Lymantria dispar
• mating disruption; pheromone
• disparlure
• population density

Acknowledgements

We thank Hannah Nadel, Christine McCallum, and Susan Lane (USDA APHIS PPQ) for supplying gypsy moth pupae; Mikeal Jolly (Goshen Scout Reservation) for providing facilities and tremendous support; Dave Plunkett, Steve Croy, Wes Nettleton, and Noel Schneeberger (USDA, Forest Service) for administrative support; Mannin Dodd (Virginia Tech) and Laura Blackburn (USDA Forest Service) for technical assistance; Amy Onken (USDA Forest Service) for assistance with aerial applications; Al's Aerial Spraying (Ovid, MI) for providing the aerial applications; Priscilla Maclean (Hercon Environmental, Emigsville, PA) for product support; Ron Hughes, Gene Sours, Bill Mohler, Kent Burtner (VA Department of Game and Inland Fisheries) for providing forest access; Hunter Clark, Lisa Connors and Ben Garber for lab assistance; Department of Entomology at Virginia Tech for providing facilities and equipment. This work was supported by the USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Protection (Grant number 10-CA-11420004-024 to K.S.O.); Rutgers University (Grant number 2012-VA-BDP-Onufrieva to K.S.O.); and the Gypsy Moth Slow-the-Spread Foundation, Inc. (Grant number A97911 to P.C.T.). Mention of a proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement or a recommendation for its use by USDA.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Protection [grant number 10-CA-11420004-024 to K.S.O.]; Rutgers University [grant number 2012-VA-BDP-Onufrieva to K.S.O.]; and the Gypsy Moth Slow-the-Spread Foundation, Inc. [grant number A97911 to P.C.T.]. Mention of a proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement or a recommendation for its use by USDA.