Mating-disruption trials for control of mediterranean flour moth, ephestia kuehniella zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), in traditional flour mills

Abstract

In the present work, 3 years of field trials (from 2007 to 2009) were carried out to evaluate use of the pheromone (9Z,12E)- tetradecadienyl acetate (TDA) for mating disruption (MD) of the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller. Dispensers containing the pheromone TDA were placed in two traditional flour mills. Pheromone-baited funnel traps were used to monitor the population fluctuations of E. kuehniella males throughout the entire experimental period; female oviposition was assessed by placement of petri cups containing wheat germ-semolina flour bait. According to our results, the use of MD dispensers does not interfere completely with the reproduction of E. kuehniella. However, looking at the overall data, there was a significant reduction in both adults and larvae in treated mills after the MD application. According to hazard analysis and critical control point procedures, treatment should be accompanied by general cleaning of the facilities, including corners and inside machinery, where insects can hide and reproduce. In integrated pest management programs, the use of mating disruption can lead to a drastic reduction in the need for chemical treatments, with improvement in food quality. Copyright ©, International Association for Food Protection.