University of California Cooperative Extension, Kern County, 1031 South Mount Vernon, Bakersfield, CA.
University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program, 3800 Cornucopia Way #A, Modesto, CA.
J Econ Entomol. 2021 Feb 9;114(1):238-247. doi: 10.1093/jee/toaa297.
The navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella (Walker), is the most significant pest of California almonds. Direct feeding on the kernel by the larvae causes reductions in salable crop, crop quality, and exportability. Pheromone mating disruption (MD) targeting navel orangeworm is a relatively new technique with the potential to improve management. In 2017, we used replicated ~16-ha plots to compare the efficacy of four commercial MD systems (CheckMate, Cidetrak, Isomate, and Semios) for their relative impacts on the number of navel orangeworm in monitoring traps and crop quality. From 2017 to 2018, we conducted nine direct comparison studies in 16 to 40 ha almond orchards to compare conventional pest management programs to programs incorporating pheromone MD systems. Across all studies, MD reduced male moth captures in pheromone traps by >94%. In the efficacy study, use of mating disruption led to 35% and 53% reductions in kernel damage in Nonpareil and pollinizer cultivars, respectively, and an average increase in crop value of $370 ha-1. In the direct comparison, kernel damage to Nonpareil and pollinizer cultivars was reduced by 65% and 78%, respectively, resulting in an average increase in crop value of $357 ha-1. Economic analyses showed that increases in crop returns exceeded the costs of implementing MD systems with the break-even point ranging from 0.86 to 1.06% of kernel damage. These results suggest that adding MD to an existing navel orangeworm management program is a cost-effective way to reduce damage while promoting sustainable pest management practices.
桔小实蝇，Amyelois transitella（Walker），是加利福尼亚州杏仁的主要害虫。幼虫直接取食核仁会导致可销售作物、作物质量和出口能力下降。针对桔小实蝇的信息素交配干扰（MD）是一种相对较新的技术，具有改善管理的潜力。2017 年，我们使用复制的约 16 公顷的试验区来比较四种商业 MD 系统（CheckMate、Cidetrak、Isomate 和 Semios）对监测陷阱中桔小实蝇数量和作物质量的相对影响。2017 年至 2018 年，我们在 16 至 40 公顷的杏仁果园进行了九项直接比较研究，比较了常规害虫管理计划与纳入信息素 MD 系统的计划。在所有研究中，MD 将雄蛾在性信息素诱捕器中的捕获量减少了>94%。在功效研究中，使用交配干扰分别导致 Nonpareil 和授粉品种核仁损伤减少 35%和 53%，平均每公顷作物价值增加 370 美元。在直接比较中，Nonpareil 和授粉品种的核仁损伤分别减少了 65%和 78%，平均每公顷作物价值增加了 357 美元。经济分析表明，增加作物收益超过了实施 MD 系统的成本，其平衡点在核仁损伤的 0.86%至 1.06%之间。这些结果表明，在现有的桔小实蝇管理计划中增加 MD 是一种降低损害的经济有效的方法，同时促进可持续的害虫管理实践。
