Mass Trapping of Male Lesser Peachtree Borer Moths with Virgin-Female Traps on Washington Island, Wisconsin, 19702

A mass-trapping program, consisting of up to 1000 traps baited with virgin females of Synanthedon pictipes (Grote & Robinson) to catch male moths, was initiated in 1970 on Washington Island, Wis. The traps caught 7900 native male moths during the season. A larval survey made by examining the native and cultivated cherry trees in May 1970 showed a population of 24,529 borers. From this larval survey and allowing for some natural mortality, it was estimated that about 8200 male moths emerged in 1970. Five releases of sterile-male moths made throughout the island showed that recovery percentages ranged from 38 to 87%. The high recovery percentages indicated that native male moths were captured soon after they emerged.