Mating Disruption-Confusion Method and Sexual Distraction: Comparison Among Different Dispenser Types for Cydia molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera Tortricidae)

The mechanisms of mating disruption for Cydia molesta males are various. The pheromone dispensers, according with their effects, can be categorised into two groups: the first one permits the orientation of males towards the pheromone release point, the other, creating an uniform pheromone cloud, does not allow the male to follow any pheromone plumes. In the years 1998-99 a study was carried out for the validation of these mechanisms and for the subdivision of the commercial pheromone dispenser (Ampolla Basf, Hercon disrupt Intrachem, Ecodian Isagro, Standard Dispenser Isagro) according to their function. Sticky traps (Traptest registered ) were baited with different dispenser types and, every week, the males trapped were counted. As we presumed the dispensers with a high concentration of sex pheromone blend had a disorienting effect on the males. On the contrary the traps baited with dispensers with a low dose caught a high number of males. It means that these dispensers permit the orientation of the males to the pheromone release point and could be competitors with wild females. For this reason we suggest to use the term mating disruption or confusion for the techniques that really disrupt the male orientation and distraction for the techniques in which the males can maintain the orientation but following false trails.