Improved Monitoring of (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Stone Fruit Orchards with a Pheromone-Kairomone Combination Lure.

Monitoring oriental fruit moth Busck (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), populations based on counts in sex pheromone-baited traps within sex pheromone-treated orchards for mating disruption (MD) is challenging since male orientation to traps is disrupted. In this study, we evaluated a new commercial pheromone-kairomone combination lure for (Pherocon OFM Combo™ Dual™), which combines the and L. sex pheromones with a blend of acetic acid and terpinyl acetate. Trap comparisons were performed in 33 trials in peach and nectarine orchards under MD (24) or non-MD (9) during the 2018-2019 period in Italy. Male and total moth captures in traps baited with the combination lure were significantly greater than in traps with pheromone in both years and across both pheromone treatments. The proportion of females in the total moth captures using the combination lure averaged ca. 7% across all trials. The by-catch of non-targets, i.e., L., was low in traps baited either with the combination and the sex pheromone lure, while trap color (white) affected the capture of beneficials but not of the target pest. Our study proves that this combination lure can improve the monitoring and management for in stone fruits. New studies are needed to define action thresholds to trigger supplemental control methods to MD. Secondly, female-based monitoring lures should be further developed to improve management strategies.