MATING DISRUPTION OF CODLING MOTH, CYDIA POMONELLA L., BY APPLICATIONS OF THE MICROENCAPSULATED FORMULATION CHECKMATE^® CM-F IN BULGARIA

The codling moth (CM) Cydia pomonella (L.), is the main pest of pome fruits worldwide, including Bulgaria. Its larvae cause severe damage to apples, pears, quinces and walnuts. Resistance of CM to commonly used conventional insecticides (organophosphates and pyrethroids), which has already been noted in Bulgaria, as well as restrictions on insecticide use imposed by EU regulations, have encouraged a new approach to the control of this pest. Alternative methods have been extensively tested during the last few years. Mating disruption appears as a very promising solution. CheckMate^® CM-F is a sprayable microencapsulated sex pheromone formulation, containing the active ingredient (E,E)-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol (14.3%), has recently been introduced into many countries for the mating disruption of codling moth. Trials comparing this encapsulated sprayable pheromone against conventional CM control practices were carried out during two consecutive years (2007-2008), in central north Bulgaria. The microencapsulated pheromone (183 ml of CheckMate^® CM-F per ha) was applied 6 times per season at 22-25 day intervals. In both years, it totally suppressed captures of male moths in codlemone baited traps in the trial plot. The fruit damage in the pheromone-treated plot stayed at a very low level, amounting at harvest 0.13% in 2007 and 0.3% in 2008 and the overwintering CM population in autumn was 0.55 and 0.65 larvae per tree in 2007 and 2008, respectively. In contrast, in the reference orchard, treated 9-11 times per season with conventional insecticides, fruit damage reached 2.3% in 2007 and 2.7% in 2008 and the hibernating CM population was 1.05 in 2007 and 1.85 larvae per tree in 2008. In conclusion, it was evident that applications of Check Mate^® CM-F can provide an effective control of codling moth, with better results than the conventional protection program in Bulgaria and should be implemented in commercial apple production.