Iris Borer

Has anyone considered putting out baited moth traps during the evenings
during the weeks (July-August for Ottawa?) when the moths are flying.
They could be lit or not. Placed right over the iris beds, they might
dilute the populations sufficiently to prevent an outbreak the next
year.  Baiting could start with a couple of females placed in the trap
but, in time, it should be possible to extract a crude pheromone that
would attract the males more effectively.  The idea would not be to
eliminate the moths but to reduce the males to the point that very few
of the females were fertilized.  As the female flies for a relatively
short time, this might be the most effective way of tackling the problem
and it would certainly beat spraying with Cygon. This year, my evening
spraying of Cygon made me quite sick despite taking great care to be
upwind, focus the spray low over the plant, and move out of the area
quickly.

Ian in borer heaven - Ottawa
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