Spodoptera littoralis male capture suppression in processing spinach using two kinds of synthetic sex-pheromone dispensers

The efficacy of mating disruption was evaluated against Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) infesting processing spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) in a two year field study. Two different kinds of pheromone dispenser were utilized during the study, including Ecodian® pheromone dispenser and a new thread dispenser. Pheromone treatments were effective in controlling S. littoralis populations, with a male capture reduction ranging from 94.6 to 98.9%. The drastically reduced adult male catches resulted in a lowering of larval populations in comparison with untreated plots. Pheromone treatments, in some cases, did not maintain the infestation below the very restrictive economic threshold required by the processing industry. Manual application of Ecodian® pheromone dispenser was a particularly time-consuming technique and not suitable for field vegetable crops. The thread application resulted in an easier solution, even if a mechanized field installation could further improve the method.