Management of the pink bollworm Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) by mating disruption in cotton fields

The efficacy of mating disruption of pink bollworm Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) was evaluated by monitoring its population with pheromone baited traps as well as by sampling flowers and bolls to record damage levels in cotton fields in 1988 and 1989, in central Greece. PB-rope dispensers were used at a rate of 1000 per hectare in the treated fields, each field covered an area of 10 and 15 ha in the first and second year, respectively. These treated fields were compared with control fields in which 2-3 insecticide sprays were applied. The dispensers reduced pink bollworm catches in pheromone traps and reduced crop damage. The direction of cotton rows in relation to the prevailing wind had a significant effect on moth catches and needs to be taken into account when using dispensers. Mating disruption was effective in preventing damage when applied early season, but damage levels were not proportionally reduced in relation to the reduction of trap catches. Sufficient gossyplure for reducing moth catches in the traps was in pheromone dispensers even 90 days in the field.