Using mating disruption to control black headed fireworm and cranberry fruitworm

Description

The goal of this project is to develop a mating disruption method to control two cranberry pests. We will test a new pheromone dispenser developed expressly for this crop. We will assess its effectiveness in reducing the populations of the two pests and the damage they cause, as well as the duration of the dispenser’s effectiveness in the laboratory and in the field. By the project’s end we will have a good idea of the potential of mating disruption to control the black headed fireworm and the cranberry fruitworm, as well as how best to apply it. This information will provide the basis for introducing mating disruption as an alternative integrated pest control strategy to Québec’s cranberry growers.

Objective(s)

• Assess the potential of mating disruption for controlling black headed fireworm and cranberry fruitworm.
• Assess the effectiveness of pheromone dispensers in reducing the number of males of these two species caught in pheromone-baited traps.
• Assess the method’s effectiveness in reducing crop damage caused by the targeted pests, as measured at the season’s end.
• Determine the pheromone release rate and the response of the males of both targeted species, over time.