Pheromone trap for the eastern tent caterpillar moth.

This research article discusses a study that aimed to perfect a pheromone trap to monitor and control the eastern tent caterpillar moth, a species that has been found to cause significant reproductive losses in horses.

Objective and Background

• The core focus of this research was to develop an optimized pheromone trap for monitoring and controlling the eastern tent caterpillar, which causes the mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS). This syndrome has been leading to massive economic losses in Kentucky’s horse industry.

Findings

• A pheromone-baited delta trap with a large opening, such as the InterceptST Delta, was found to be more effective than other traps tested in the study. The delta trap’s design was especially significant since it attracted and captured more moths.
• The color of the trap also contributed to its effectiveness. Orange-colored delta traps were more successful in catching moths compared to traps of other colors.
• In terms of placement, the moths could be caught at any height within the tree canopy. However, for easy counting of captured moths, a height of 1.5 meters was recommended for setting traps.
• The optimal blend that attracted the eastern tent caterpillar males was a 9:1 combination of (E,Z)-5,7-dodecadienal (ETC-Ald) and (E,Z)-5,7-dodecadienol (ETC-OH). This blend was more effective than a 3:1 blend even when the latter was used at a nine times higher loading rate.
• Regarding the material of the trap, pheromone-impregnated white septa were more successful in catching moths than gray septa at the same loading dose. This underscores the influence of trap material on overall effectiveness.

Discussion

• The authors engaged in a comprehensive discussion on the strength and limitations of using these pheromone traps for monitoring the eastern tent caterpillar moth. Despite some constraints, these traps are a practical and effective tool for controlling this pest and mitigating the impact on the horse industry.