Attractive plant volatiles as a control method against apple fruit moth (Argyresthia conjugella Zell.)?

Summary

Apple fruit moth, Argyresthia conjugella Zell. (Lepidoptera: Argyresthiidae), is the most important
pest of apples in Scandinavia. In years when its primary host, rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.), has little
or no berries for egglaying, female A. conjugella fly into apple orchards to lay their eggs. In some
years the entire apple crop can be destroyed. Volatiles from apples and rowan have been collected
and identified. In GC-EAD tests females have responded to several compounds found in both
rowan and apple. Some of these compounds were used in field trapping tests during 2002, and a
mixture of two compounds trapped significantly more females and males compared to control traps.
However, field trapping results from 2003 indicate that the two-compound blend seem to trap insects
too late in the season to prevent egglaying in apples. Several new compounds were also
tested in 2003, and some of these gave promising results. The results will be discussed in relation
to use attractive plant volatiles as a control method against A. conjugella females.