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    Mechanical application of SPLAT using a tractor

    Mechanized application of SPLAT OFM from above the tree canopy.

    SPLAT OFM dollop on a peach tree

    SPLAT OFM dollop applied on a branch of a peach tree.

    Michigan State University Field Study of SPLAT OFM


    		 
    NOVEMBER 9, 2006
    FIELD STUDY BY MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS DEMONSTRATE SEASON-LONG EFFECTIVENESS OF SPLAT OFM 30M-1

    The oriental fruit moth (OFM) Grapholita molesta is a highly destructive pest of stone fruits, primarily infesting apples and pears. Native to Japan, this pest was introduced to the United States in the early 1900s. The oriental fruit moth is now found in all regions of North America, primarily the mid-Atlantic region, and many other stone fruit growing regions around the world. Damage caused by the OFM is typically referred to as flagging. Infested shoots and terminal leaves wilt and bend over. After larval emergence, the entire tip and its leaves dry up, and bend down even further.

    The main tools used to control insect pests today are insecticides and mating disruption products. Four key problems are commonly associated with the over-use of insecticides: insecticide residues on food, increased insecticide resistance, detrimental effects of insecticides on beneficial insects, and the economically inefficient use of insecticides. Mating disruption products provide a more environmentally friendly and species specific approach in controlling target insect species.

    ISCA Technologies is proud to introduce its Specialized Pheromone & Lure Application Technology (SPLAT) for the control of oriental fruit moth. SPLAT OFM provides season long sustained and controlled release of the oriental fruit moth pheromone for the disruption of adult mating. Unlike other long duration mating disruption products, SPLAT OFM can be applied mechanically using tractors, metered backpack sprayers, caulking guns, aircraft, etc. (see photo), thus reducing the costs of labor, yet maintaining mating disruption effectiveness for the entire season, in most cases. While mating disruption products have proven to be more effective than insecticides in many independent studies, current mating disruption products have some drawbacks. They are either labor intensive because individual hand application on the crop is required, or, the mechanically applied formulations do not last long enough and need many applications over a season to effectively control the target species. SPLAT OFM effectively overcomes many of the disadvantages that have hindered wider scale adoption of mating disruption technology.

    Competitive field studies have proven that SPLAT OFM is as or more effective than other mating disruption products. SPLAT OFM has been independently evaluated in many field studies with outstanding results. A study by Michigan State University researchers in 2006 shows that one high-speed, mechanized application of SPLAT OFM in late spring effectively disrupts OFM mating for the duration of an entire season and reduces crop damage.

    Evaluation Results:
    • Mating disruption evaluation

      • Mating of tethered virgin female G. molesta was completely disrupted in pheromone-treated blocks season long.

    • Shoot and fruit injury evaluation

      • At season’s end, the mean proportion of fruit injury found in pheromone-treated plots was less than half of that in control plots.

    • Trapping study

      • During the first 17 days following deployment of fresh SPLAT OFM (0.38g) dollops in delta traps, the mean number of male moths captured in traps baited with 0.1 mg rubber septum lures was significantly greater than the mean number of males captured with SPLAT OFM dollops.

    • Longevity of adherence
      Of the 40 drops that were flagged, 35 were successfully found near the end of the four month study.

    • Adult moth monitoring

      • Following a single mechanized application, the mean number of moths per block per generation was significantly greater in control plots than in pheromone-treated plots for moth generations 1 – 3, respectively.
    View the field study report of mechanically-applied SPLAT OFM here.

    Says Dr Agenor Mafra-Neto, CEO of ISCA Technologies: “We are very pleased about the smooth EPA approval of SPLAT OFM 30M-1 for the oriental fruit moth, and, the results of independent studies that demonstrate the season long effectiveness of SPLAT OFM with just one application. SPLAT mating disruption formulations are a technological leap that address many of the drawbacks that have hindered wider scale adoption of environmentally friendly mating disruption products.”


    ABOUT ISCA TECHNOLOGIES’ SPLAT FORMULATIONS

    SPLAT (Specialized Pheromone & Lure Application Technology) has numerous advantages over current semiochemical controlled release technologies :

    • Provides long term rain and UV protection for the pheromone and/or active ingredient.

    • Biologically inert and bio-degradable matrix.

    • Ability to vary release rates and duration from weeks to months with one application depending on the size of the SPLAT dollop, and in many cases, achieve season long control with one application.

    • Amorphous and flowable quality allows for many types of application methods: spatula, caulking gun, metered backpack sprayer, tractor, aircraft, etc.
    • Possible to develop formulations to target more than one pest with formulation mix of desired pheromones, active ingredients and/or pesticides.