Integrated control of wheat blossom midge - HGCA

In 2003 field experiments were carried out at two sites on Rothamsted farm. These were ‘West Barn Field’(6 Latin square arrays of traps ) and ‘Meadow’ (3 Latin squares). Different vial loadings and purity ofpheromone were evaluated as well as plant-derived semiochemicals as attractants for female S. mosellana intrapping experiments. In addition to this a comparison was made at two locations between lines of 10 yellowsticky traps placed at 5m intervals with two pheromone traps (expt. 2). In this experiment wheat ears weresampled and infestation level in the crop was recorded. Details of treatments are given in Table 1.In 2004 further field trials were conducted with the pheromone. Polyethylene vial and rubber septumformulations were compared and the pure enantiomers were compared with racemic material, and differenttrap designs were compared. Release rates from standard formulations were determined. Another fieldtrapping experiment with plant-derived volatiles was conducted. An investigation of correlation betweenmidge infestation in the crop and pheromone and sticky trap catches was also performed on five differentsites. Details of treatments are given in Table 2.51