Mating disruption of Planococcus ficus with sex pheromones in California vineyards

On-Demand

Presenting Author(s)

NM

Nathan Mercer

University of California Berkeley
Parlier, California

Co-Author(s)

AL

Alonzo Ledesma

University of California Berkeley
Parlier, California
JL

Jeannine Lowrimore

Pacific Biocontrol
Lodi, California
Peter McGhee

Pacific Biocontrol Corporation
Corvallis, Oregon
KD

Kent Daane

University of California Berkeley
Parlier, California

California vineyards are attacked by several mealybug species, including Planococcus ficus Signoret that causes the most damage and can transmit Grapevine leafroll-associated virus, which lowers crop yield and quality. Adult male P. ficus are winged and locate mates with a sex pheromone released by the females. The sex pheromone has been identified and a synthetic version has been developed for monitoring and mating disruption. The recommended pheromone dispenser deployment rate is 200-250 dispensers per acre. While this strategy is effective at mating disrupting, the high number of dispensers is labor intensive to deploy. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of lower numbers of dispensers per acre. Vineyards were located in Lodi, California; 50, 75, 100, 150 or 200 dispensers per acre were deployed in a randomized block design. Male flight activity was monitored with sticky traps baited with sex pheromone lures and were checked every two weeks. Results are discussed with respect to mealybug control and grower costs.