Browsing by Author "Tobin, Patrick C."

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    Efficacies and Second-Year Effects of SPLAT GM™ and SPLAT GM™ Organic Formulations
    Onufrieva, Ksenia S.; Hickman, Andrea D.; Leonard, Donna S.; Tobin, Patrick C. (MDPI, 2014-12-23)
    Mating disruption is the primary control tactic used against the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) under the gypsy moth Slow the Spread (STS) program. In this paper, we present the results of the multiyear study designed to evaluate a new liquid SPLAT GM™ (ISCA Tech, Riverside, CA, USA) Organic formulation, which is approved by the USDA to meet National Organic Program Standards for use in organic certified farms, for its ability to disrupt gypsy moth mating, and to evaluate the environmental persistence of SPLAT GM™ and SPLAT GM™ Organic formulations. Environmental persistence of the pheromone beyond the year of application is a significant concern since STS relies on trap catch data to evaluate treatment success. The study was conducted in 2007–2012 in forested areas in Virginia and Wisconsin, USA. We observed that SPLAT GM™ Organic reduced gypsy moth trap catch by ≥90% for 10 weeks in a similar manner as SPLAT GM™ and Hercon Disrupt® II (Hercon Environmental, Emigsville, PA, USA). Although we observed persistent effects in all products one year after application, the persistence observed in SPLAT GM™ and SPLAT GM™ Organic was significantly lower than that of Hercon Disrupt® II plastic laminated flakes.
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    Ground application of mating disruption against the gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Erebidae)
    Onufrieva, Ksenia S.; Hickman, Andrea D.; Leonard, Donna S.; Tobin, Patrick C. (2019-09)
    The gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), is a non-native defoliating insect that continues to expand its range in North America and undergo periodic outbreaks. In management efforts to suppress outbreaks, slow its spread and eradicate populations that arrive outside of the invaded range, aerial deployments of mating disruption tactics and pesticides are generally used. However, in some cases, such as in heavily urbanized areas or other landscapes where aerial deployments are not feasible or permitted, ground applications are required. Ground applications tend to be labour-intensive to ensure adequate coverage. To better inform optimal deployment of ground applications of mating disruption, we measured the effectiveness of a pheromone formulation designed for ground application, SPLAT (R) GM, in forested areas of Virginia from 2011 to 2014 using different dosages and number of point applications. We observed that SPLAT (R) GM applied to the tree trunks at the dosages of 49.4 and 123.6 g AI/ha in 11 x 11 systematic grids (i.e., every 11 m) reduced male trap catch by >90% relative to untreated control plots, which based on previous studies corresponds to >95% reduction in gypsy moth mating success. Our observations suggest that ground applications of gypsy moth mating disruption can be a successful management tool when circumstances require it.
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    Relationship between efficacy of mating disruption and gypsy moth density
    Onufrieva, Ksenia S.; Hickman, Andrea D.; Leonard, Donna S.; Tobin, Patrick C. (2018-03-31)
    Mating disruption tactics involve the deployment of pheromones to interfere with mate finding behaviors in insect populations. This management strategy is the dominant one used against expanding gypsy moth populations in the United States, and historically it has been assumed to be most effective against low-density populations. Operationally, mating disruption is used in areas where the season-long trap catch is <30 males/trap, however the maximum population density at which mating disruption is effective remains unknown. We analysed historical gypsy moth mating disruption treatment data from 2000 to 2010, and used this information to guide the mating disruption field studies conducted from 2012 to 2015 against artificially-created populations of various densities, from 0 to 116 males/trap/day. We observed that mating disruption tactics at a dose of 15g AI/ha were effective against gypsy moth populations with a season-long trap catch of at least 115 males/trap. This research highlights the utility of mating disruption in higher gypsy moth densities than what is currently recommended in management programs.