Developing female removal for Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in organic pear in the USA and Italy

Seventeen trials were conducted using traps baited with kairomone-based lures to evaluate female removal (FR) as an effective management tactic for codling moth, Cydia pomonella, L., in organic pear, Pyrus communis production Italy and USA during 2019–2020. Studies included paired plots (0.4–1.4 ha) treated or without 60 ha−1 cultivars Bartlett Abate Fétel. Paired also together mating disruption (MD) similar spray programmes. Three-, four-, five-component used several trap types: green, clear green/white bucket orange delta traps. The three-component lure consisted of (E,E)-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol (sex pheromone, PH), (E,Z)-2,4-ethyl decadienoate (pear ester, PE) acetic acid (AA); the four-component was PE, (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene (DMNT), 6-ethenyl-2,2,6-trimethyloxan-3-ol (pyranoid linalool oxide, LOX), AA, had PH added. Preliminary studies trapping efficacy non-saturating A PE/DMNT/LOX + AA captured 97-fold more moth females than PH/PE. However, captures did not differ between when both lure. Fruit injury from significantly reduced implementation FR pear regions. At harvest, mean fruit protection 65% 27% Italy. This difference likely associated being less USA. Nevertheless, results demonstrate that can be a useful approach remove immigrating into orchards new reduce pest pressure selected areas allowing MD insecticide programmes effective. Further should investigate cost-benefit matching intensity variable pressures.