APPLIED CHEMICAL ECOLOGY OF THE MULLEIN BUG, CAMPYLOMMAVERBASCI. (HETEROPTERA: MIRIDAE).
Heather L. McBrien1, Gary J.R. Judd2 and J.H.Borden1
1Dept. of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University,Burnaby, B.C. Canada V5A 1S6
2Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Pacific Agri-Food ResearchCentre, Summerland, B.C. Canada V0H 1Z0.
A pheromone-based management program for Campylomma verbascihas been developed using its sex pheromone, a 94:6 blend of butyl butyrate(BB) and 2(E)-crotyl butyrate (CB) in apple orchards in British Columbia.Monitoring in conventional orchards using pheromone-baited traps showeda significant positive relationship between numbers of adult males capturedin the fall and numbers of nymphs the following spring, enabling growersto develop a risk-rated system for orchards. Treatment of the orchard atmospherewith the 94:6 blend or individual components showed that disruption ofpheromone communication was most effective with the 94:6 blend. Individualcomponents appeared to disrupt pheromonal communication mainly by the creationof sensory imbalance, while disruption using the 94:6 blend appeared toinvolve several mechanisms. Treatment of the orchard atmosphere with thetwo component pheromone reduced numbers of nymphs the following springon average by 81% in 4 of 5 orchards assessed by limb-tap samples. Thisis the first reported example of atmospheric permeation with syntheticsex pheromone causing a reduction in the population density of a heteropteran.