Clearwing moth borers comprise one of the most damaging groups of insect pests that attack shade trees and shrubs. Controls must be accurately timed, since larvae tunnel under the bark most of the year, where they are unreachable by most insecticides. Artificial pheromones of many of the clearwing moths found in the landscape are available. These pheromones are a synthetic of the sex attractant emitted by many insects & are commercially available and recommended for the IPM manager.
Plant manager viewing contents of clearwing moths captured in pheromone-baited wing-trap. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
This green ash tree is showing severe symptoms from banded ash clearwing moths. Too late for pheromone traps to be of value. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
Adult male clearwing moths are attracted to the pheromone-baited sticky trap that helps determine: 1) if the borers are present in an area; and 2) when to apply insecticide sprays. Pheromone traps enable landscape managers to accurately determine when the first emergence of the egg laying borers are expected so that insecticides can be timed & applied effectively to susceptible tree/shrub hosts. Spraying the bark of the tree to be protected with a long residual insecticide (i.e., such as pyrethroids) should effectively kill the young borer larvae as they hatch from eggs & attempt to tunnel into the stems or branches.
Hypothesized flight path of an adult male clearwing moth towards the pheromone trap. (Diagram: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
