Integrated use of sterile codling moths and fruit flies in apple and pear orchards

It has been proposed that insects treated with the appropriate pheromone could provide effective mating disruption in orchards. Sterile fruit flies have been used in a novel method of mating disruption referred to as mobile mating.  The objective of the study is to establish if pheromone treated sterile fruit flies can be used to suppress codling moth mating in orchards.

Sterile fruit flies where treated with microencapsulated codling moth pheromone. Application techniques were assessed. The distribution of released sterile fruit flies in orchards from a single release point was determined.

The application of the current microencapsulated codling moth formulation was found to be unsuitable. Flies treated with various dilutions where unable to fly. Field release of treated flies was not successful.  Alternative formulations of codling moth pheromone were not available.

The application of microencapsulated pheromone formulations is problematic and not practical. Modified formulations have been assessed by other researchers and could be investigated. Mobile mating disruption is of interest as it can be used on a range of insects including fruit flies