Mating disruption method to control vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret, 1875) (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) in Manisa (Türkiye) vineyards

Planococcus ficus (Signoret, 1875) (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) is considered as an important pest of vineyards in Türkiye. Control methods for P. ficus worldwide are often based on using insecticides. However, due to the cryptic lifestyle of P. ficus, reasons such as its presence under the bark, its body being covered with a waxy layer, and the inappropriate timing of insecticide use often cause insecticides to fail to perform as expected. Therefore, using alternative pest control methods can be more effective in P. ficus management. Mating disruption (MD) is a commercially available and environmentally sustainable control method for P. ficus. This study was conducted in the Aegean Region, which covers a total of 30% of Türkiye’s grape production areas. Field trials were conducted in Manisa, over 3 years by monitoring the mealybug population in table grape vineyards managed with MD and in a control (Non-MD) plot. In this study, pheromone- based mating disruption was applied in an open-field design using a sprayable microencapsulated pheromone (Check-Mate VMB- F) at 12.4-74.4 g of active ingredients per ha through the season. Trap catches and bunch damage in the MD plot were far lower than in the Non-MD plot. In 2019, 2020, and 2021, crop damage rates were 12.3%, 3%, and 2.3% in the MD plot, respectively, while they were 56%, 37%, and 41% in the Non-MD plot. The results of the 3-year study have shown that MD can be used safely in integrated pest management to control vine mealybug in the vineyards of the Aegean region.