Development and delivery of biopesticide-based pest management for Michigan apple producers

Field investigations were conducted to develop effective and economical biopesticide-based management programs for control of two tortricid moth species, codling moth (CM) (Cydia pomonella L) and Oriental fruit moth (OFM) (Grapholita molesta Busck). Experiments were conducted: i) to determine mechanisms by which pheromone-mediated mating disruption (MD) operates for control of CM and OFM, ii) to evaluate pheromone dispenser deployment strategies, iii) to evaluate effects of moth behavior on dispenser deployment strategies, and iv) to evaluate use of CM Granulosis virus for CM population suppression. I found that: i) MD of both moth species is improved by increasing density and distribution of pheromone release sites, ii) CM adults are distributed throughout the tree canopy during evening activity periods, iii) MD dispensers placed in the top and mid tree canopy resulted in lower percentages of mated females than distribution at one height, only, iv) adult CM leave the tree canopy to inhabit drive-row grass and herbicide strip vegetation during daytime inactivity periods, v) frequent applications of a low rate of virus yielded excellent, economical control of CM, and vi) an areawide approach to deploying CM MD reduced male moth capture and incidence of larval injury to fruit with less insecticide use than MD in small individual orchard blocks or insecticide only programs.