Smetnik, A.I., Konstantinova, G.M., Kovalev, B.G., Bychina, T.I., Rotar, M.G., & Maksimova, V.I. 1982 [Testing of pheromone traps for San Jose scale Aspidiotus perniciosus, fruit pest control, USSR.]. Zashchita rastenii. Moscow. "Kolos" (1) 39.

Notes: Synthetic sex pheromones of the California scale [Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (Comst.)] have proved useful for detecting infestation by this scale in many countries. In the USSR, resin traps containing 100 mu g of the attractant were tested in Soviet Moldavia and the Stavropol region from late August 1979 to the end of the 1980 season. In 1980, spring was late, and male flight and scale development were somewhat delayed. Nevertheless, males were taken and white traps gave better results than black ones or those of other colours, except daylight traps. Sex ratios had some effect on catches. The first males were taken on 25 May, and maximum numbers in early June; the last of the early generation was taken on 18 June. Males of the following generation were taken from early August onwards. Numbers reached a peak on 15 August, after which there was decline followed by an increase until mid-September as a result of the development of diapause nymphs; catches ceased on 20 October. Catches in unbaited traps showed a similar course. Three components of the pheromone, referred to as SIS=1, SIS=2 and SIS=3, were compared with each other and with the complete mixture, black and white traps being compared. The white traps captured more males than the black ones, whatever the attractant used. With whichever colour, SIS=3 attracted far more individuals than did the other components or the mixture. To test the effect of distance from the attractant, SIS=2 and SIS=3 were exposed at a height of 1 m in the crown, and 55 and 100 m away from the trees. Between 21 August and 9 September, the numbers of males taken in the crown were 1251 for SIS=2 and 1543 for SIS=3, as compared with 917 and 795, respectively, at 55 m, and 234 and 304 at 100 m. All the results pointed to use of the pheromone for early detection of the scale, so facilitating control of local foci of infestation.