Attractiveness and toxicity of an attracticide formulation on adult males of ash leaf cone roller, Caloptilia fraxinella

Abstract

A biodegradable attracticide formulation containing the pyrethroid insecticide permethrin and the sex pheromone of the ash leaf cone roller, Caloptilia fraxinella (Ely) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), was tested for attractiveness and toxicity to males of this invasive pest of horticultural ash, Fraxinus spp. Marsh. (Oleaceae). Trap capture in attracticide-baited traps was equal to capture in traps baited with rubber septa lures releasing the known attractive pheromone. Pheromone response by male C. fraxinella was not affected by the presence of permethrin as equal numbers of males were captured in traps baited with the attracticide formulation with and without permethrin. Attraction to the attracticide containing both pheromone and insecticide active ingredients did not vary with dose as 10, 50, and 100 mg droplets of the formulation attracted similar numbers of male moths in a field experiment. Equal numbers of male moths were captured in traps baited with droplets that had aged for 0 -5 weeks in a laboratory fume hood before deployment in the field. The permethrin constituent of the attracticide formulation was toxic to male moths treated through tarsal contact and resulted in 73 and 100% mortality at 24 and 72 h post-treatment, respectively. Leg autotomy occurred in over 80% of males 24 h post-treatment to formulations containing permethrin. Mortality of moths was greater 24 h after treatment with a fresh attracticide source as compared to a 5-week-old source. However, mortality as a result of treatment with fresh and aged attracticide droplets was equal at 48, 72, and 96 h post-treatment. This formulation has the potential to become a useful tool in an integrated pest-management system for C. fraxinella on horticultural ash.

Suppression of citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella, with an attract‐and‐kill formulation

“…Both in our field and laboratory investigations, there was no evidence that the 6% permethrin loading in the MalEx formulation inhibited male P. citrella response to droplets containing pheromone. These results are congruent with several other studies showing that permethrin does not repel moths in pheromone‐based attracticide formulations at loading rates ranging between 1 and 10% (Haynes et al., 1986; Evenden & McLaughlin, 2004b; Nansen & Phillips, 2004; Curkovic & Brunner, 2006; Evenden et al., 2008). At least one recent investigation of this attracticide formulation showed that the addition of permethrin did not increase efficacy against G. molesta , suggesting that mating disruption was the operative mechanism of control (Evenden & McLaughlin, 2004a).…”

“…This duration of attractiveness is lower than that observed with attracticide formulations for other moth species. An attracticide formulation targeting Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) remained highly attractive to males over a 3‐month period (Brockerhoff & Suckling, 1999), whereas another formulation targeting Caloptilia fraxinella (Ely) remained attractive for at least 5 weeks (Evenden et al., 2008). A major factor limiting the utility of MalEx as a practical control tool for management of P. citrella will be the duration it remains attractive to males in the field.…”

“…This formulation was registered in Switzerland under the trade name Sirene (Charmillot & Hofer, 1997) and subsequently as LastCall in the USA, Europe, and South Africa (Evenden & McLaughlin, 2004a). The original target pest of this formulation was the codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. (Charmillot & Hofer, 1997); however, LastCall has been adopted for multiple other pests since then (Brockerhoff & Suckling, 1999; Evenden & McLaughlin, 2004a; Nansen & Phillips, 2004; Maxwell et al., 2006; Evenden et al., 2008). The goal of this investigation was to develop effective attract‐and‐kill for P. citrella by adopting the controlled release gel, termed MalEx, which is the currently licensed name for a formulation similar to LastCall.…”

Seasonal Abundance, Life History, and Parasitism of <I>Caloptilia porphyretica</I> (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), a Leafminer of Highbush Blueberry

“…For other gracillariid species, an attract-and-kill station and mating disruption has been investigated for Caloptilia fraxinella (Ely) in ash (Fraxinus spp.) and Phyllonorycter blancardella (F.) in orchards, respectively; so, there is an option to use a similar technology in blueberries (Trimble et al 1999, Evenden et al 2008.…”

Biology of Caloptilia fraxinella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) on ornamental green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Oleaceae)

“…To develop an integrated pest management system to monitor and control (Evenden et al 2008) this new pest of urban landscapes across the Canadian prairies, it is necessary to better understand the life history of this insect on ornamental ash plantings. In the present study, eggs, larvae, and pupae were followed during development to determine the temporal and spatial distribution of these life stages on their ash hosts.…”