Good Fruit Grower

March 1

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I n mating disruption using pheromones, males of a species—usually moths that produce larvae that feed on fruit—are so overwhelmed by powerful sex attrac- tants that they can't find the object of their intended affection. The females are lost in a plume of perfume. But—since even a blind squirrel finds a nut some- times—wouldn't it be better to lure the males and kill them when they find the object emitting the attractive odor? Be done with them, don't tease them? Dr. Matt Grieshop, a Michigan State University ento- mologist, worked last year with Dr. Larry Gut and post- doctorate Juan Huang to develop a device that would do that. They tested it on oriental fruit moths in wind tun- nels, refined it, and this year plan to take it to the field for further testing. A key concept is to use a small amount of pheromone so that males aren't overwhelmed in a plume but are attracted to what they think is a female moth. This phony female is inside an insecticide-treated pouch. The male makes contact with the pouch. Four seconds of contact is enough to kill the male. "Mating disruption functions by distracting males for a limited time," Grieshop said. He used codling moth as an example. Each male potentially has three hours of mating time per night during a four-day lifespan, so each false approach uses about one twelfth of a male's mating lifespan. "Attract and kill uses all of a male's remaining lifespan," he said. Current attract-and-kill technology uses droplets of wax or polymers that contain both the pheromone and 22 MARCH 1, 2014 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com Pest Management 2921 Sutherland Park Drive Yakima, WA 98903-1891 855-855-0318 509-248-0318 FAX 509-248-0914 hfhauff@gmail.com • www.hfhauff.com H.F. HAUFF COMPANY INC. ★ Increased Radius Coverage by 80-150 Feet with Same HP Draw ★ Air Flow Starts 14'' from Hub ★ Donier Swept Tip —Reduces Tip Drag ★ The Only Fan Blade with the "Trailing Edge Wedge" (widens sector angle and increases air velocity) ★ Advanced Air Foil Design ★ Increased Air Horsepower ★ Quality Built, Affordable, Fast Payback Returns ★ Satisfaction Guaranteed ★ REDUCED FUEL CONSUMPTION Does YOUR fan blade cover 15-plus ACRES? DISCOVER THE CHINOOK FAN BLADE ADVANTAGE. FORD TRITON V-10 or IVECO NEF 6.7 DIESEL Give the CHINOOK BLADE a trial spin, at our expense! Judge for yourself! TOLL FREE for Apple, Pear, Cherry, Plum, and Apricot CONTROLLED POLLINATION WASHINGTON D&M Chemical Michael Ellingson 509.678.5750 WASHINGTON Wilson Irrigation 509.453.9983 CALIFORNIA Tom Majors Central Valley, CA 559.287.8900 OREGON Tim Polehn The Dalles, OR 541.340.9238 OREGON Blue Mountain Growers The Dalles, OR 541.938.3391 MICHIGAN Alpers Tree Sales Suttons Bay, MI 231.633.8358 NEW FOR 2014 FirmYield Pollen's Lightweight ATV Pollen Appicator Virus & Viability Tested Compatibility Matched www.firmyieldpollen.com Phone 509.453.4656 HIGH QUALITY POLLEN and the Means to Apply It! Attract and KILL Michigan researchers have designed a device for oriental fruit moth. by Richard Lehnert

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