An effective "push-pull" control strategy for European tarnished plant bug, Lygus rugulipennis (Heteroptera: Miridae), in strawberry using synthetic semiochemicals.

Background European tarnished plant bug, Lygus rugulipennis (Heteroptera: Miridae), is a polyphagous pest damaging a range of arable and horticultural crops. Management is reliant upon chemical insecticides for control. These studies developed a synthetic semiochemical push-pull control strategy to reduce numbers of L. rugulipennis and subsequent fruit damage in UK strawberry crops. Using a series of small-field experiments and testing in commercial strawberry crops we explored the efficacy of hexyl butyrate (HB), as the push element and female sex pheromone combined with phenylacetaldehyde as the pull. Results HB dispensers placed 1.0, 3.5, 5.0, and 7.0 m from all-green Unitraps baited with the L. rugulipennis female sex pheromone significantly reduced male catches by 99%, 54% 44% and 20%, compared to untreated control, respectively. Subsequently, HB dispensers at 2 m intervals along the crop row (the push), combined with a perimeter pull, in commercial crops, reduced numbers of adult and nymph L. rugulipennis by up to 80% in organic strawberry crops compared to the untreated control. Finally, the push-pull system halved fruit damage (8%) compared to the untreated areas (16%) in conventional crops. In organic strawberry crops, 90% of untreated strawberries had some mirid damage compared to only 41-51% in the push-pull treated areas. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a push-pull approach using synthetic semiochemicals giving a significant reduction in crop damage by mirids and paves the way for non-pesticide control of a range of mirid species on multiple crops. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.