This project is a field validation of various new tactics, such as pheromone mating disruption, trap monitoring and threshold development, fruit damage inspection, and optimum chemical application, to improve control of fruit-feeding "worms" in western New York apples.

During the last several years, western New York apple growers have noticed increasing internal fruit damage from Lepidoptera in their orchards. Numerous loads of apples have been rejected by processors because of unacceptable infestations of larvae. This escalating problem clearly poses a threat to the continued viability of this industry. New York apple growers are already anticipating future limits to the use of broad-spectrum insecticides because of recent pesticide legislation. In addition, they are faced with low commodity prices because of increased domestic and foreign competition and higher production costs. If this new pest crisis is not solved quickly, it may hasten the decline of this already beleaguered but important regional industry.

In 2006, 3 different pheromone products -- Isomate ties, MSTRS-OFM packets, and Hercon Disrupt Micro-Flakes, plus a fruit sampling procedure were evaluated in codling moth (CM) and/or oriental fruit moth (OFM) management programs in 9 orchards of varying pest pressure. The CM products were used in combination with a 4-spray program of Cyd-X granulosis virus. All pheromone treatments generally suppressed catches of CM and OFM moths to very low levels, although some breakthrough did occur, particularly for CM. Two sites had notable CM catches, one where the Hercon-CM successfully depressed catch numbers after its application on 7 July, and another where there was a substantial breakthrough during the first week in August. The fruit sampling procedure, comprising on-tree inspection of 100 fruits per plot each week in July and August, was convenient to implement and appeared to effectively allow detection of low-level infestations at a very early stage, so that the growers could be notified of any extra needed control measures in a timely fashion. Fruit damage at harvest was low in all treatments, and statistically comparable to the grower standard program at 6 of the 9 sites. At two sites, the damage was lowest in the Isomate site, and in one site, the Isomate and MSTRS treatments sustained higher (1.8-2.9%) damage than the grower`s standard program (0.1%), although proximity to a large bin storage area could have contributed substantially to this result.

Although the pheromone treatments tested were a useful component of the internal worm management programs in these orchards, some factors can be identified as potentially contributing to less than perfect fruit quality: plot size not large enough to overcome the possibility of immigration by mated females; population pressure sometimes too high to be effectively disrupted by the treatments; and the pheromones being applied against only the 2nd-3rd generations, leaving the potential for the 1st generation to contribute to fruit damage. The fruit inspection regimen appears effective and reliable, but it remains difficult to convince growers to wait for evidence of even a low level of damage in their orchards before applying a special spray against these pests. In general, considering the overall levels of pest pressure in these orchards, and the economics (considering both materials and labor) of implementing these pheromone treatments, it is possible that many internal worm problems in NY orchards could be adequately addressed by adjusting pesticide spray schedules or with the use of selective products for some designated sprays. In terms of risk reduction, conventional pesticide use against these species could be reduced in situations of low to moderate population pressure, where mating disruption could be relied upon to adequately mitigate potential fruit infestations. Incorporation of granulosis virus into CM management programs shows promise as a supplemental tactic.

Arthur Agnello (NYSAES, Cornell Universityt)