Attract-and-kill methods for control of indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), and comparisons with other pheromone-based control methods

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: The approaches were to test attract-and-kill formulations in laboratory conditions, simulated warehouses and commercial establishments to control Plodia interpunctella populations.

Findings and Conclusions: Adult males of Plodia interpunctella were impacted by pyrethroids and naturally derived Pyrethrins in contact toxicity tests, where mortality was more than 70%. Permethrin might be an alternative to be used in an attract-and-kill formulation for up to eight weeks. Is has adequate residual active ingredient, and adequate material and doses can be sprayed on to plastic-coated paper, bare metal, or bare plastic. The dispenser of pheromone is important in the attraction of adult males. An optimal release gradient will attract males; otherwise improper gradients will repel or do not elicit any attraction. Wax panels and plastic cylinders, both with 6.0% active ingredient (permethrin and cyfluthrin, respectively), that are deployed with a Biolure strips suppressed adult populations in wind tunnel experiments. Similar impact was demonstrated in simulated warehouses, except that cyfluthrin was used at 2.0% active ingredient. In 2005, a field experiment was conducted in commercial establishments, and wax panels with 6.0% permethrin that were deployed with Biolures' significantly suppressed P. interpunctella populations. In 2006, pheromone-based methods were tested in commercial establishments. Among methods tested, the attract-and-kill formulation using 0.08% deltamethrin sprayed on plastic-coated paper. This method was not as effective as the wax panels utilized during the previous year. Mating disruption method with Biolures' only was as equally as effective as mass-trapping. Either of these methods can be used by pest control operators if applied at the proper concentration and formulation.