What Can We Learn from Dissecting Tortricid Females About the Efficacy of Mating Disruption Programs?

Sex pheromones, naturally released by female moths to attract males, have been synthesized and released at high levels to achieve mating disruption. Unfortunately, it has been more difficult to measure actual female mating disruption than communication disruption of males to synthetic lures placed in traps. Here we summarize the literature for several key tortricids that are important pests of tree fruit and grapes and for which over 1,000,000 hectares are treated with mating disruption products. Two types of assessments (stationary and active) have been used to sample female mating, and they differ widely in their estimates of mating success. We present limitations associated with both types of measures. A review of the literature suggests female moth’s behaviors have not well considered in defining the success of mating disruption. The recent identification of dual sex lures for these tortricids may allow another and simpler technique to be used to estimate female mating success. These lures can be used to compare different types (hand-applied dispensers, sprayables, and aerosols) and combinations of these mating disruption techniques in order to develop more effective management programs.