Crop Protection Product Efficacy Testing for Codling Moth – Laboratory
Author: RT Curtiss
Published: 2025
Summary: Codling moth management in Washington State requires effective mating disruption and application of conventional or organic insecticides. New insecticide products and tactics need to be tested under laboratory conditions, but without access to a colony of codling moths for assays, new product testing is severely hampered. This project established a research codling moth colony at WSU-TFREC in Wenatchee to be used to test new crop protection products and tactics. The first year of the project was constrained by repeated failures to induce oviposition in the laboratory, but by the second year, that issue was resolved and eggs were consistently laid in mating containers. By the project end, we performed assays with new topical ovicides, antifeedants, and potential repellants using the colony. There are still improvements to be made in the rearing process, however, moving forward we have established protocols that will allow for future testing of new products and tactics.
