No abstract

No abstract

A range of ester pheromone analogues for carposinid moths were synthesized and evaluated for biological activity. The analogues aimed to take advantage of the structural commonality of (7Z)-alken-11-ones found in this family. Analogues were tested on two pest species: Heterocrossa rubophaga and Coscinoptycha improbana. Two of the analogues, (2Z)-nonenyl nonanoate and (4Z)-heptyl undecenoate, elicited significant electroantennogram responses. Only (4Z)-heptyl undecenoate gave consistent responses with both moth species in single sensillum recording. Field trapping trials were conducted with these two analogues both individually and in combination with the pheromone of each of the two moth species. No attraction was observed to either of the analogues alone, by either moth species. However, when (4Z)-heptyl undecenoate was coupled with the pheromone, it produced a strong inhibitory effect in H. rubophaga, reducing male moth trap catch by over 95%. No inhibitory effect on male moth trap catch was observed in C. improbana.

Global use of phosphine as a fumigant has increased in response to the need to replace methyl bromide and with the improved formulations ECO2FUME and VAPORPH3OS Phosphine is registered as a postharvest fumigant on kiwifruit in New Zealand and has been used commercially to reduce the risk of detecting live pests Scale insects mealybugs and diapausing twospotted spider mites were exposed to a range of phosphine treatments A 48h low temperature (1746C) fumigation (64083311 ppm) achieved 100 mortality of all life stages of oleander scale insects while a 12h exposure killed all longtailed mealybug life stages A 36h low temperature (2533C) fumigation (43322712 ppm) treatment achieved 100 mortality of all greedy scale insect life stages A 48 to 96h treatment (36001200 ppm) at 115C caused 913100 mortality of diapausing twospotted spider mite adults Use of phosphine as a commercial treatment for kiwifruit is discussed

New Zealand flower thrips (NZFT Thrips obscuratus (Crawford)) were exposed to a range of ethyl formate (EF) and pyrethrumbased postharvest treatments on apricots Research showed that EFCO2 or EFN2 were effective treatments against NZFT and caused negligible damage to apricot fruit quality However pyrethrum dipping did not effectively control NZFT and caused significant internal damage to apricot fruit Lethal concentration (LC99) estimates were developed for adult and larval NZFT using a range of EF concentrations (0127 EFCO2) and temperatures (5 15 and 25C) It is estimated that treatments of 1 (307 g/m3) EF at 5 or 25C or a higher concentration of 15 (463 g/m3) at 15C will achieve 99 mortality of NZFT adults and larvae on apricot fruit with 95 confidence