Auto-dissemination of a fungal pathogen for codling moth control in apple

摘要

Here we describe work in progress to develop a highly specific approach to controlling codling moth by attracting male moths to a pheromone-baited inoculation device and infecting them with an entomopathogenic fungus. Laboratory and field trials demonstrated that pheromone dispensers made from plastic vials or rubber septa were equally effective, even though the extent of pheromone isomerisation was greater in rubber septa than plastic vials. A virulent isolate of the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, was selected in laboratory bioassays. Inoculation devices were developed and shown to be effective at attracting male moths, contaminating them with fluorescent powder and releasing them again in laboratory and field trials. When a device containing the entomopathogenic fungus was used, up to 75% of recaptured males were infected in the field. Although this may be an overestimate due to the method of recapture used, it demonstrates the potential of this strategy.