Sex Pheromone of the Grape Leaffolder, Desmia funeralis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae): Laboratory and Field Evaluation

Abstract

Studies conducted with virgin females of Desmia funeralis (Hübner) indicated the presence of a female sex pheromone. Laboratory tests indicated no significant difference between the attractiveness of 5 and 10 virgin females, and a slight difference between the attractiveness of one and 2 females. Field tests showed considerable difference between one and 2 females. However, the differences among 2, 5, and 10 females were not clear cut. Two types of sticky traps, “open traps” and “closed traps,” were tested in the field, and closed traps were more efficient in trapping attracted males. One- to 2-day-old females were most attractive, followed by 3-, 4-, and 5-day-old females. Seven- and 8-day old females were nonattractive. The adults of D. funeralis are nightflyers. Under central California conditions, they were active between 10 PM and 4 AM, with a sharp peak at about midnight. Readings taken in the experimental vineyard at 2-hour intervals indicated that temperatures fluctuated between 13.2 and 29.4°C during moth flights. Most mating in the field was observed from 10 PM–2 AM.