Effects of interspecific sex pheromones on the trapping efficiency of five pest species in an apple orchard

The species Grapholita molesta, Adoxophyes orana, Carposina sasakii, Apolygus lucorum, and Lithocolletis ringoniella are the most important insect pests in apple orchards in China, and their outbreak cycles are partially overlapping. Sex pheromone-based pest monitoring technique is an effective tool for decision-making regarding the use of insecticides. Interactions between interspecific pheromones of pests have not been widely explored, especially of the phylogenetically distant species that have completely different pheromone components. It is unclear whether sex pheromone lures from the five pests could be applied together without compromising their individual effectiveness. To address this knowledge gap, different combinations of commercially available sex pheromone lures were placed in the same trap to evaluate the interactions of interspecific sex pheromones in the field. The annual occurrence and peak of these five pests in the experimental apple orchard were investigated, and the sex pheromone lure of A. lucorum had no impact on the population dynamics and trap catches of A. orana or L. ringoniella. Similarly, the sex pheromone lures of A. orana, G. molesta, C. sasakii, or L. ringoniella did not influence the presence and trap catches of A. lucorum. The sex pheromone lure of A. lucorum can be used separately or in combination with those of four other pests in apple orchards. The study provided a theoretical foundation for effectively managing these five pests by integrating their sex pheromone lures in orchards.