1st Place: Evaluating a combo lure system for apple IPM

Apple production is a profitable Minnesotan crop with ~$30 million in annual revenues. A key challenge to sustainable apple production is management of insect pests. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs require monitoring to guide pest control against species like obliquebanded leafroller (OR, Choristoneura rosaceana) and redbanded leafroller (RL, Argyrotaenia velutinana). Species-specific pheromone traps are available for insect pests but are time consuming. Our aim was to determine if a single trap, baited with OR and RL lures, could be as effective as conventional separate traps. To evaluate dual lure traps, a study was established in a commercial orchard near Preston, Minnesota in 2022. Four replications of traps (OR and RL specific, both pest lures combined, control), using randomized complete block design, were randomly placed in four quadrants of the orchard and sampled weekly from June to September. Pheromone lures were replaced every three weeks. Comparisons between treatments will be discussed.