SPLAT GM: A Dual Action Organic Formulation to Control Gypsy Moth

Recipient Organization
ISCA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
2060 CHICAGO AVE STE C2
RIVERSIDE,CA 92507

Performing Department
(N/A)

Non Technical Summary
The gypsy moth (GM), Lymantria dispar, is one of North America's most devastating forest pests, defoliating 75 million acres of northeast forest, and is steadily expanding its range into hardwood forests throughout the U.S. The USDA National Slow the Spread Project (STS) is expected to suppress infestations into new territories. The USDA reports that the current use of two key tools for STS, larvicides and pheromone mating disruption, have serious shortcomings for an area-wide program. In Phase II, we will build upon the success of Phase I to optimize the slow release formulations, and test single applications of SPLATGM and SPLAT-GM L with conventional sprayers early in spring on small (40-acre) and large (1000-acre) field trials in the first and second years. If successful, Phase II will result in SPLAT-GM for mating disruption, and SPLAT-GM L for dual-action, representing savings to STS (if adopted) of approximately $50 million if used over the previous four years.

Animal Health Component

100%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

100%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
122	0620	1070	50%
122	0620	1130	50%

Knowledge Area
122 - Management and Control of Forest and Range Fires;

Subject Of Investigation
0620 - Broadleaf forests of the North;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology; 1070 - Ecology;

Keywords

gypsy moth, splat, semiochemical, pheromone, integrated pest

management, mating disruption, control, economic

Goals / Objectives
Phase II main objective is to use ISCA Technologies formulated SPLAT-GM using a long-lasting, environmentally friendly, amorphous sprayable semiochemical formulation technology (SPLAT) for the controlled release of the synthetic GM pheromone, racemic disparlure (SPLAT-GM ). SPLAT-GM will be applied with conventional aerial spray equipment and tested for efficiency.

Project Methods
SPLAT-GM will be applied with conventional aerial spray equipment in 40-acre plots and it will be determined if it promotes complete mating disruption of GM for over 10 weeks in the field.

Progress 09/01/07 to 08/31/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: This SBIR resulted in an efficient new product line, SPLAT GM, that has been approved for operational use by US Forest Services, has been registered with EPA, and now it is being successfully commercialized and applied to control of Gypsy Moth in the US Forest's Slow the Spread of Gypsy Moth program. Numerous talks and posters resulted from this R&D, several papers are being prepared for submission. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
This SBIR resulted in an efficient new product line that has been registered and now it is being successfully commercialized for the control of Gypsy Moth in the US Forest's Slow the Spread of Gypsy Moth program. In its first year of commercialization it already has a market share of 25% in market that used a single pheromone formulation for the past decade. Because new applicators can use conventional spray application equipment to deliver SLAT, the prospect is for SPLAT GM to increase its market share in the next 5 years, at the same time it will be reducing the cost of execution of the STS GM program.

Publications

No publications reported this period

Progress 09/01/07 to 08/31/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: ISCA Technologies Inc. (Riverside, CA), in cooperation with Dynamic Aviation (Bridgewater, VA) demonstrated equipment to aerially apply SPLAT-GM on approximately 21,566 acres during June and July of 2008 as part of USDA s program to slow the spread of the gypsy moth (STS). The government evaluated performance based on how easily the application system calibrated, how well it maintained calibration during application and ease of loading/cleaning the system. The project was implemented in two phases: the first phase at the end of June in the state of Virginia and the second phase a month later primarily in the state of Minnesota. PARTICIPANTS: Personnel: ISCA Technologies, Inc., Riverside, CA Agenor Mafra Neto; Reg Coler; Anna Getchell; Walter Boger; Carmem Bernardi; Diego Zeni; Lisiane Zeni; Annlok Yap. Dynamic Aviation, Bridgewater, VA Brandon Yoder, Pilot; Tim Sanders, First Officer; Caleb Stitely, Aerial Application Sales Representative; Jason Burkholder, Lead Mechanic; Guthrie George, Mechanic; USDA Donna Leonard, STS Program Manager, Forest Service, Asheville, NC; Ken Klein, STS Program Technician, Forest Service, Christiansburg, VA; Amy Onken, Entomologist, Forest Service, Morgantown, WV; John Kyhl, Entomologist, Forest Service, St. Paul, MN; David Cowan, Technician, APHIS, PPQ, CPHST, Otis ANGB, MA; Other Government Personnel Larry Bradfield, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Office of Plant and Pest Services, Christiansburg, VA; Matt Andresen, Gypsy Moth Program Manager, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Raleigh, NC; Lucia Hunt, Gypsy Moth Unit Supervisor, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Plant Protection Division, Saint Paul, MN; Alison Boutin, GIS Specialist, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Plant Protection Division, Saint Paul, MN; Brendon Seitz, Resource Manager, USDI, National Park Service, Grand Portage National Monument, Grand Portage, MN; Tim Miller, Forester, Grand Portage Indian Reservation, Grand Portage, MN; Nick Clemens, Gypsy Moth GIS Coordinator, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, Madison, WI. TARGET AUDIENCES: We worked with USDA, US Forest Services and State governments involved with the Gypsy Moth Slow the Spread program. A dissemination report is being drafted by ISCA, Dynamic Aviation, USDA, US Forest Services; a success story has been published in the Internet; scientific presentations have been scheduled for the 2008 Annual Gypsy Moth Review (2 presentations) and the National Meeting of the Entomological Society of America (2 presentations). PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
A total 1,343.5 kg of SPLAT-GM was applied to 11,906 acres (7.5 kg on two small study plots in Wisconsin and 1336 kg on the 11,779-acre demonstration block in Minnesota). Our intent was to deliver a rate of 116.9 grams per acre on the demonstration block. Ground calibrations were performed using pressure to adjust the flow to desired rate but in addition to recording pressures the rate displayed on the flow meter was recorded. During applications, the first officer adjusted pressure to maintain the desired rate on the flow meter which was successful in delivering the desired rate during application. The equipment demonstrated by ISCA and Dynamic Aviation to apply SPLAT-GM was found to meet the criteria of a spray system that could be used operationally in the STS program.

Publications

No publications reported this period