The determination of the effectiveness of pheromone traps for the control of Box Tree Moth Cydalima perspectalis in Georgia

Abstract: The Box Tree Moth (BTM) Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera; Crambidae) was introduced in 2012 in Georgia and in the next year it began to defoliate Buxus spp. in large quantities. Today the situation is quite alarming in Western Georgia, with BTM damaging Buxus colchica, which is an endemic species of the Caucasian flora and is threatened now by habitat loss. The larvae feed on leaves and shoots, causing serious damages, defoliating box trees, leading to economic, social and environment problems. During 2017-2018, a WitaTrap® Funnel trap system, with pheromone CYDAWIT® (Witasek, Pflanzenschutz, GmbH, Austria), was installed for the monitoring and control of BTM.A long term trapping was conducted at two location of boxwood forest in Tsageri-Ambrolauri (South slop of Grate Caucasian mountain range) in West Georgia. In total 450 pheromone traps were set out on the 150 ha at least ten days before the pest was expected to emerge and at the proper height above the ground or in the plant canopy. Three traps per ha were placed, where prevailing winds were carrying the pheromone into the forest area. BTM moths attracted by the pheromone fall into a capture container and cannot fly out anymore. The pheromone traps were emptied and new dispensers were added at two times during the flying period of C. perspectalis. The number of captured adults variated from 11 to 176 moths per trap. In total approximately 93000 (2017) and 74000 (2018) C. perspectalis were captured in Tsageri-Ambrolauri region during this monitoring period.