Pheromone-Mediated Mating Disruption as Management Option for Cydia spp. in Chestnut Orchard

Investigations were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of mating disruption (MD) to control chestnut tortrix moths. Surveys were performed at four sites in northern Italy in 2019–2020. MD was carried out using the pheromone dispenser Ecodian® CT. The total number of trapped males was significantly lower in MD plots than in control ones for all sites and years. Trap catch suppression in MD plots averaged 89.5% and 93.8% for Cydia fagiglandana and 57.4% and 81% for Cydia splendana in 2019 and 2020, respectively. A reduction of about 71% of larval infestation of chestnut fruits was only recorded in the MD plot at one site in 2019. Although the reduction in male catches in MD plots was observed, this research highlighted the need to perform further studies to investigate the effect of MD in reducing larval damage of chestnut fruits.