Possibility of Leopard Moth Control in Walnut Orchards through Male Mass Trapping Technique, Using Sex Pheromone

Leopard moth, Zeuzera pyrina L., is a xylophagous key pest in Iran. Pest has major hosts in orchards. Walnut is the main host in orchard trees. Other hosts in Iran are apple, pear and Quince. At present, this pest is active in the middle and eastern provinces of Iran. In this study, the efficacy of a new and common method which is mass trapping of male insects by synthetic pheromones was investigated. The test was conducted in a completely randomized block design with 5 treatments and 5 replications. The treatments included control, 4, 8, 12 and 16 pheromone traps/ha. The pheromone of clearwing moth, Synanthedon tipuliformis was used in this study. To install of pheromone traps in orchards, we used delta traps. We carried out this project in two years (1389-90) in two years (1389-1390) obtained in Horticultural Research Station in Kamal shahr, Karaj, indicated that in first and second years treatments can be placed in 5 and 3 statically groups, respectively. Evaluation of experimental treatments done on the base of number of first instars larvae penetrated in to non-woody branches. According to that in first year application of 16 traps with means of 1.84± 0.133 and in second year application of 4 traps with mean of 0.66±0.169 penetration showed the best results. Based on these results, orchards are recommended to do this 2- year's procedure in order to effectively reduce the damage.