Control of Ephestia cautella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Phycitidae) by synthetic sex pheromones in the laboratory and store

Abstract

The reduction in mating of Ephestia cautella caused by permeation of the atmosphere with synthetic sex pheromone components was investigated in the laboratory and store. In the laboratory the three main components of the pheromone complex were tested either singly or in combination, and ( Z, E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate (ZETA) was found to be the most effective. Field trials were carried out in simulated cocoa stores with four different initial application rates of ZETA and two moth population densities. The concentration of airborne pheromone was measured, and the emergence of the F 1 generation was used to assess the degree of reproductive control. Decreased numbers of copulating pairs were observed in the stores treated with pheromone, and F 1 emergences were reduced by 91 to over 99% when population densities of moths of 0.1–0.3 moths/m 2 surface area were exposed to pheromone concentrations of 4–10 μg/m 3. The results provide a basis for investigation of the effects of factors such as method of pheromone application and store conditions on the effectiveness of this control technique.