| Title: | Comparing Deliveries of Sterile Codling Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) by Two Types of Unmanned Aerial Systems and from the Ground |
| Author(s): | Lo PL; Rogers DJ; Walker JTS; Abbott BH; Vandervoet TF; Kokeny A; Horner RM; Suckling DM; |
| Address: | "The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 1401, Havelock North 4157, New Zealand. The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 4704, Christchurch Mail Centre, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1938-291X (Electronic) 0022-0493 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "New Zealand apple exports must meet strict phytosanitary measures to eliminate codling moth (Cydia pomonella Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) larval infestation. This study was part of a program attempting the localized eradication of codling moth within an isolated cluster of seven orchards (391 ha). A conventional management program of insecticide sprays and pheromone mating disruption was supplemented with weekly releases of sterile moths for 1-6 yr. Our objective was to compare the recapture rate of sterile moths following their release by four methods, and the efficiency of each system. The methods were the following: a fixed-wing unmanned plane flying ~40-45 m high at 70 km/h, an unmanned hexacopter travelling 20 m high at 25 km/h, and manually from the ground via bicycles or motor vehicles. The different release methods were used in different years or weeks. Sterile male moths were recaptured in grids of pheromone traps positioned throughout each orchard. The highest recapture rate followed delivery by hexacopter, then bicycle, vehicle, and plane. There was a 17-fold difference in catches between releases by hexacopter and plane, and sixfold between vehicle and plane in the same season. Bicycle delivery had a 3.5-fold higher recapture rate than the plane in different years. The wind-borne horizontal drift of moths was investigated as a possible explanation for the disparity of recaptures between the two aircraft delivery systems. The methods in ascending order of time per hectare for delivery were the following: plane and vehicle, hexacopter, then bicycle. The advantages and disadvantages of each moth delivery method are discussed" |
| Keywords: | Animals Insect Control *Malus *Moths Pheromones *Sex Attractants drone insect release sterile insect technique; |
| Notes: | "MedlineLo, Peter L Rogers, David J Walker, James T S Abbott, Bruce H Vandervoet, Timothy F Kokeny, Anna Horner, Rachael M Suckling, D Maxwell eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2021/06/29 J Econ Entomol. 2021 Oct 13; 114(5):1917-1926. doi: 10.1093/jee/toab052" |
