Attraction of Female Lesser Wax Moths (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) to Male-Produced and Artificial Sounds

Abstract

Virgin female lesser wax moths, Achroia grisella (F.), released inside a greenhouse 3.5 m from each of six pairs of baits were caught in sticky traps and counted. The number of female moths caught in each trap determined the relative attractiveness of the following baits: intact males producing sound and pheromone, muted males producing pheromone, muted males and 72-kHz synthesized sound, and the synthesized sound alone. Intact males attracted the highest percentage of virgin females (78%), whereas muted males plus 72-kHz sound attracted 66% of virgin females. Whether paired against an empty cage or against muted males, synthesized sound attracted 31 to 32% of the virgin females released. Only 6% or less of the females were trapped near muted males. Groups of intact males out competed single males.