Four years of mating disruption for the control of plum fruit moth Cydia funebrana (Treitschke), in plum orchard in Emilia-Romagna region (North Italy)

Abstract: In Italy there are 14,200 ha of plums, 5,100 located in Emilia-Romagna and 950 in Modena province. The main characteristics of the plum orchards in this area is their relatively small surface (on average 1.5 ha) with many varieties, with different harvesting time (from mid June until mid September) and very high pest populations. Plum fruit moth, Cydia funebrana, is the most common Lepidoptera species in Italian plum orchards. After the European insecticide review few active ingredients are now allowed to be used on plum. In Emilia-Romagna regional 2012 IPM guideline only 6 active ingredients are permitted: Chlorantraniprole (max 2/yr), Etofenprox (max 2/yr), Fosmet (max 4/yr), Spinosad (max 3/yr), Thiacloprid (max 1/yr), and Emamectina benzoate (max 2/yr).This fact combined with particular pest habit to lay eggs directly on fruits with very quick larvae penetration after hatching, determines difficulties in its control. The aim of the trial, carried out in the four years 2009-2012 in a plum orchard in the North of Italy (Modena province) of total surface of 2 ha, was to verify if the application of MD (Mating Disruption) with the product Isomate® OFM rosso, in these particular field conditions could be helpful to reduce the infestation at harvest. Results show that a combined application of mating disruption with Shin-Etsu product and chemical treatments for the control of Plum fruit moth on plum produced optimum insect control, better than the one obtained with standard control strategies alone.