Population dynamics and biological control of European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana: Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Albania using different strains of Bacillus thuringiensis

This work describes the results of an experiment conducted in a vineyard in Durres, Albania from 2004 to 2006, to study the efficacy of two strains of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner, vars kurstaki and aizawai, against the moth Lobesia botrana Denis Schiffermuleler (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a major pest of grapevines. The experimental results revealed that the two strains were significantly more effective than the control, with var. aizawai being more effective than var. kurstaki. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) provided better protection of the bunches from the second generation compared to the third one showing the short persistence of action of the active ingredient. The high degree of efficacy supported a role for Bt in grapevine moth management. Our study also provided insights into the population dynamics of the European grapevine moth under Albanian climatic conditions. Despite the necessity for the pheromone traps to indicate the start of the flight period, the experiments confirmed the lack of a correlation between the population dynamics and the level of damage by the pest. Pheromone trapping can offer very useful indications regarding the start of the flight period of each generation and its duration but not on the severity and incidence of the pest.