Comparison of Sex Pheromone and Kairomone-Enhanced Pheromone Lures for Monitoring Oriental Fruit Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Mating Disruption and Non-Disruption Tree Fruit Orchards

Abstract

Oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck), populations were monitored using standard sex pheromone lures (OFM L2) and kairomone-enhanced lures to aid the interpretation of trap captures with enhanced relative to conventional lures. Initially, comparison of 10 different lures showed that a10X load of OFM pheromone, codlemone, terpinyl acetate, and acetic acid were key components of the most attractive lures (TRE11034 and 1123). Subsequent trapping studies in mating disruption and non-disrupted orchards in the United States and Spain compared trap captures with TRE1123 and OFM L2 lures. Compared to the OFM L2 lure, the TRE1123 lure captured more moths in mating disruption and non-disrupted orchards, caught female moths, improved the precision of mean population estimates, and led to greater resolution of generational flights. Suppression of trap captures in mating disruption versus non-disrupted orchards was similar with both lures. There were significant linear correlations between weekly trap captures with the two lures in the majority of mating disruption and non-disrupted orchards across locations and years. Furthermore, regression of the slopes of trap capture regressions (i.e., attractiveness of enhanced lures relative to sex pheromone lures alone) versus moth density (as measured by mean cumulative moth capture with TRE1123 and OFM L2 lures) exhibited a significant positive relationship in non-disrupted orchards, indicating enhanced lures were relatively more attractive under high population densities. This relationship was not significant in mating disruption orchards, likely due to the density independent, non-competitive mechanism of mating disruption for oriental fruit moth when using high-dose reservoir dispensers.

Increasing catches of adult moth pests (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in pome fruit with low‐intensity LED lights added to sex pheromone/kairomone lure‐baited traps

“…This multi‐component lure can outperform sex pheromone lures and catches a high proportion of female moths (Knight, Mujica, Herrera, & Tasin, 2019; Knight, Mujica, Larsson Herrera, & Tasin, 2019). Kairomone lures concurrently developed for other important tortricid pests in the United States, such as the oriental fruit moth (OFM), Grapholita molesta (Busck), have caught a lower proportion of female moths (Cichon et al, 2013; Knight et al, 2014; Walgenbach et al, 2021). Lures comprised of 2‐phenylethanol or phenylacetonitrile with AA have caught a higher proportion of female moths of several leafroller species, including eye‐spotted budmoth (ESBM), Spilonota ocellana (Denis and Schiffenmüller), Pandemis spp., and oblique banded leafroller (OBLR), Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris), but have not yet been used for “female removal” (Basoalto et al, 2017; Giacomuzzi et al, 2017; Judd et al, 2017a; Judd et al, 2017b; Knight et al, 2017).…”

Functional Characterization of Pheromone Receptors in the Beet Webworm, Loxostege sticticalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

“…Insects rely on the olfactory system to locate habitats and identify mating partners. Sex pheromones emitted from conspecifics are crucial for courtship and mating [3,4]. The sex pheromones of Lepidoptera species, composed of two or more components, are biosynthesized and released by the female sex gland to attract male moths [5].…”

Evaluation of Selected Plant Volatiles as Attractants for the Stick Tea Thrip Dendrothrips minowai in the Laboratory and Tea Plantation

“…There is no doubt that numerous semiochemical compounds released by plants could elicit significant behavioral responses of thrips [ 3 , 4 ]. Furthermore, semiochemicals produced by plants as well as their mimics, always provide an alternative to pheromones as lures, and sometimes can be more widely used and powerful attractants of thrips [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Semiochemicals produced by plants fulfill the following advantages necessary for promising lures of thrips: (a) Low toxicity to the environment, humans, and non-target beneficial arthropods, such as natural enemies; (b) volatile under normal environmental conditions; (c) stable for a long period of time; (d) the cost is relatively low compared with the established control measures; and (e) can attract more than one species of thrips [ 8 ].…”