Fall Armyworm: 1 Disruption of Pheromone Communication with Synthetic Acetates 2

Abstract

Four synthetic acetates and an alcohol were field tested in traps as possible sex attractant inhibitors for the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith). Two of the compounds (( Z )-7-dodecen-1-ol acetate and ( Z,E )-9,12-tetradecadien-1-ol acetate) reduced the attraction of males to females 90–100%. These 2 chemicals and Z -9-dodecen-1-ol acetate subsequently were field tested as pheromone-communication disruptants. ( Z )-9-dodecen-1-ol acetate and ( Z,E )-9,12-tetradecadien-1-ol acetate effected a greater than 85% disruption of communication between males and females when they were evaporated into the atmosphere surrounding calling females. The former compound is a sex attractant of the fall armyworm; the latter is a sex attractant of Plodia interpunctella (Hubner), S. exigua (Hubner), and S. eridania (Cramer). The use of these compounds to interrupt the normal reproductive cycle of the fall armyworm on an area-wide basis might therefore be feasible.