Frustrate
Frustrate® PBW is a hand applied, controlled release formulation containing the pink bollworm (PBW) sex pheromone. It controls this important cotton pest by preventing moths from mating.
Female pink bollworm moths attract males by releasing into the air an odour plume of sex pheromone. Males of the same species normally respond by flying upwind until they reach and mate with the female.
Frustrate PBW bands release a fog of synthetically produced sex pheromone in the crop which prevents the male moths distinguishing the natural odour plumes released by females. The males are thus prevented from finding females, mating does not occur and females are unable to lay fertile eggs. Larval infestations and consequent damage to the crops are significantly reduced.
Benefits:
- Excellent pink bollworm control through mating disruption
- Preservation of beneficial insects
- Minimal environmental risk
- Improved cotton quality and yield
- IPM compatible
- Not affected by rain
- Season long control from one application
- Low mammalian toxicity
Pink Bollworms generally commence their attack during early to mid season. Early application of Frustrate PBW bands, delays the need for insecticides thus enabling the build up of beneficial insect populations. Use of the bands to control pink bollworm reduces the number and frequency of insecticide sprays directed at other bollworms. The reduction or elimination of pyrethoid sprays in particular, results in significantly lower whitefly or spider mite infestations later in the season.
The Product
Frustrate PBW bands are small polymer strips incorporating the pink bollworm sex pheromone. They are applied to young cotton plants by placing them over the terminals. The bands release quantities of the pheromone for up to 100 days (up to 3 generations of the pest).
Timing
Application of Frustrate PBW should be made at the first appearance of moths in susceptible cotton (generally at or before first pin-square).
Application Rate
The product is applied at 250 bands per hectare (100/acre) equivalent to 40 grams of active ingredient (gossyplure) per hectare or 16 grams/acre.
Crop Coverage
The bands should be placed over the terminals of the plants and applied evenly throughout the crop at the recommended rate.
Efficacy of the product is enhanced with area wide use and isolation from non-treated or insecticide treated fields to minimise immigration of mated females. It is recommended that Frustrate PBW bands be used on treatment areas of at least 10 hectares (25 acres) in order to minimise these edge-effects.
Additional bands should also be applied along upwind field edges.
Compatibility
Frustrate PBW bands can be used in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes with either biological or selective chemical insecticides. The product is harmless to beneficial fauna and does not control any other cotton pests. Frustrate PBW can be safely used where Trichogramma egg parasites are released and these two biological approaches to cotton pest management are fully compatible.
Residual Control
When used according to label instructions, the product will disrupt the mating of pink bollworm moths for up to 100 days.
Packing
250 or 1000 bands per sachet: sufficient to treat 1 or 4 hectares.
International Experience
Frustrate PBW bands have been successfully evaluated and gave excellent pink bollworm control in official trials in many cotton growing countries around the world including Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey, Greece, USA and Mexico. In trials in Pakistan during 1996 and 1997, season long pink bollworm control was achieved using Frustrate PBW bands with significantly lower infestations than in conventional insecticide treated plots. Likewise, whitefly populations were also lower in pheromone treated areas, with consequent reduction in honeydew secretions on the plants and improved cotton quality, due to reduction in sooty mould.
Monitoring & Assessment of Control
It is recommended that crops treated with Frustrate PBW bands are monitored with sex pheromone traps. These traps provide information regarding optimal application time for the product by indicating the arrival in the crop of the first generation adults. Following application of Frustrate PBW, the degree of trap shut-down in the treated area, (compared with trap catches in adjacent untreated cotton), provides a useful measurement of the percentage of mating disruption and the duration of field activity.
Ultimately, the measure of control is assessed by the increase in yield and quality of seed cotton compared to untreated or insecticide treated areas. During the season, performance may be monitored by pheromone trap shut-down in the treated area, reduction of rosetted blooms and reduction of infestation in green bolls.
For more information please refer to our Frustrate PBW brochure.
Pests
Crops
TDS