Seed orchards function as the primary source of high-quality seeds for reforestation in many European countries, but their seed yields can be severely reduced due to seed- and cone-feeding insects. We evaluated various parameters of pheromone-based mating disruption for control of the moths Cydia strobilella and Dioryctria abietella, which are major pests in European Picea abies seed orchards. We applied different types of pheromone dispensers (rubber septa or wax droplets) at different densities and heights, and with different amounts of active components, covering whole orchards or part of an orchard. The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated by analysing male captures in pheromone-baited assessment traps, and presence of larvae in cones. A dramatic decrease (94–100%) in capture of males in traps occurred in all pheromone-treated plots compared to control plots for both moth species. In contrast, a subsequent reduction in larval numbers in cones was only achieved when wax droplets were used as the dispensing formulation at high density and at the highest pheromone dose tested, and only in half of the trials for each pest species. Electrophysiological recordings using antennae of male C. strobilella indicated elevated pheromone concentrations in a treated plot versus a control plot. Our results show that mating disruption has potential to reduce cone damage in spruce seed orchards caused by C. strobilella and D. abietella, but optimisation of the technique is required to achieve consistent and efficient population suppression of these pests.

中文翻译：

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云杉种子园中基于信息素的交配破坏小球藻和小球藻的挑战。

在许多欧洲国家，种子园是造林的优质种子的主要来源，但是由于种子和锥饲昆虫的危害，种子园的种子产量可能会大大降低。我们评估了基于信息素的交配破坏的各种参数，以控制飞蛾Cydia strobilella和Dioryctria abietella，这是欧洲云杉冷杉的主要害虫。种子园。我们使用了不同类型的信息素分配器（橡胶隔片或蜡滴），它们的密度和高度不同，活性成分的含量也不同，覆盖了整个果园或果园的一部分。通过分析信息素诱饵评估陷阱中的雄性捕获物和视锥细胞中幼虫的存在来评估治疗效果。与两种蛾类的对照样地相比，在所有用信息素处理的样地中，陷阱中雄性的捕获量均显着下降（94-100％）。相比之下，仅当以高密度和最高信息素剂量将蜡滴用作分配制剂时，锥体中的幼虫数量才会随之减少，并且每种有害生物物种的试验只有一半。使用男性触角的电生理记录C. strobilella球菌表明，在处理过的地块与对照地块中，信息素浓度升高。我们的结果表明，交配破坏有可能减少由C. strobilella和D. abietella引起的云杉种子果园的视锥细胞损伤，但是需要对技术进行优化才能实现对这些害虫的一致且有效的种群抑制。