BACKGROUND: The strawberry tortrix, Acleris comariana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a destructive pest of strawberry in Denmark and southern Sweden. The efficacy of pheromone-based communication disruption of the species was examined in crop fields in southern Sweden. Due to the high cost of purchasing or synthesizing the pheromone (E)-11,13-tetradecadienal, lower quantities were applied per ha compared to similar mating disruption studies on other tortricid pests. RESULTS: When treating 1 ha within fields with 14 or 1.4 g of pheromone and using rubber septa as dispensers, trap catches were reduced by ≥98% versus control areas. When treating whole fields with 0.45–0.90 g/ha and using 1 g SPLAT droplets as dispensers, the effect on trap catch was less pronounced (63–95% reduction vs control fields). A corresponding reduction in larval numbers following the treatment was not achieved. Additional experiments revealed that males are more attracted to SPLAT droplets compared to trap lures, and aggregate near SPLAT droplets, indicating that low catches in traps were due to induced allopatry, a form of competitive disruption. In addition, female-baited traps were outcompeted when placed close to septum-baited traps. Pest densities were high, and the lack of control effect could be attributed to high encounter rates between the sexes despite the female competitive disadvantage, making mating disruption less efficient. CONCLUSION: Our data show the potential for pheromone-based control of A. comariana as part of integrated pest management, but the method needs optimization regarding density and strength of dispensers and ways to reduce the initial density of the pest to levels where competitive mechanisms of mating disruption can be efficient.