Trapping Alfalfa Looper Moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) with Single and Double Component Floral Chemical Lures

An improved female-targeted semiochemical lure for the European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn.

“…The chemicals tested were selected based on their occurrence in the scents of maize silk (Hammack, 1996) or of flowers visited by pest moths (Haynes et al, 1991;Heath et al, 1992;Landolt and Smithhisler, 2003;Guédot et al, 2008;Landolt et al, 2014) and their performance in past field tests as moth attractants (Landolt et al, 2001(Landolt et al, , 2006(Landolt et al, , 2011Meagher and Landolt, 2008;Tóth et al, 2010). We evaluated chemicals in combination with PAA and in comparison with PAA.…”

Field Response of Alfalfa Looper and Cabbage Looper Moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Plusiinae) to Single and Binary Blends of Floral Odorants

“…The compounds methyl salicylate, racemic limonene, methyl-2-methoxy benzoate, R-(ϩ)-␣-pinene, S-␤-pinene, and ␤-myrcene were tested in combination with phenylacetaldehyde for evidence of improvement over moth attraction to phenylacetaldehyde alone. Phenylacetaldehyde was the strongest attractant for alfalfa loopers among chemicals tested previously (Landolt et al 2001). For each of these two-chemical combinations, two vials were placed in the bucket of the trap; one vial containing phenylacetaldehyde and the other vial containing the second chemical.…”

“…Polypropylene vials (8 ml; Nalgene 2006-9025; Fisher, Pittsburgh, PA) were used as dispensers for the testing of chemicals, following the methods used by Landolt et al (2001). Chemicals (5 ml) were pipetted onto cotton in the bottom of the vial.…”

“…Like other pest Plusiinae, it visits ßowers at which it probably feeds (Essig 1926) and is attracted to some ßowers by the ßoral odor (Landolt and Smithhisler 2003). Seven compounds emitted from moth-visited ßowers were evaluated previously for their attractiveness to alfalfa looper moths (Landolt et al 2001). Alfalfa looper moths were attracted to phenylacetaldehyde and to benzyl acetate, as was indicated by their capture in traps baited with these chemicals, but were not attracted to 2-phenylethanol, benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, cis-jasmone, or linalool.…”

“…Both phenylacetaldehyde and benzyl acetate, which are attractive to alfalfa looper moths (Landolt et al 2001), were tested singly and in combination with additional chemicals. Four of the compounds tested, ␤-myrcene, ␣-pinene, ␤-pinene, and limonene, are emitted along with phenylacetaldehyde, benzyl acetate, and other compounds by ßowers of Oregon grape, which are visited by alfalfa looper moths when it blooms in early spring (Landolt and Smithhisler 2003).…”