Suppression of Mating by Blackheaded Fireworm ( Lepidoptera : Tortricidae ) in Wisconsin Cranberry Marshes by Using MSTRSrM Devices 1

J Agric Entomol 15(4): 377-386 (October 1998) ABSTRACT We conducted a study to optimize the deployment of our controlled pheromone release system called metered semiochemical timed release system (MSTRSTM) and to measure its impact on male blackheaded fireworm, Rhopobota naevana (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) The deployment pattern and pheromone emission rate of the M S T R S devices were adjusted to give optimal mating disruption in the widely dispersed cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton) beds from a perimeter only pattern of deployment During the first flight, disruption of pheromone source location averaged 98, 98, and 40% in the first, second, and third grower sites, respectively During the second flight, disruption averaged 88% in the first grower site and 86% in the second and third grower sites More importantly, high levels of mating disruption were achieved, as measured by the frequency of mating by captured free-flying females About 24 and 15% fewer second-generation blackheaded fireworm females mated in t h e MSTRVM-treated beds i n the first and second grower sites, respectively, compared with the check plots In the first grower site, the mean number of matings, a s measured by the numbers of deposited spermatophores, per female captured during the second flight was 0 75 in the MSTRST" beds and 1 8 in untreated beds Number of matings per female in the second grower site averaged 1 0 in the MSTRSTb'-treated beds and 1 4 8 in the untreated beds.