Sex pheromone traps for monitoring the honeydew moth,Cryptoblabes gnidiella: Effect of pheromone components, pheromone dose, field aging of dispenser, and type of trap on male captures

Abstract

The effects of pheromone components, pheromone dose in the dispenser, aging of dispenser in the field, and trap type on trapping efficiency of males of the honeydew moth,Cryptoblabes gnidiella (Mill.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), were investigated. At dosages of 2 or 0.2 mg, a binary blend containing (Z)-11-hexadecenal (Z11–16: Aid) and (Z)-13-octadecenal (Z13–18:Ald) (1:1) was as effective in attracting males as a quaternary blend containing Zll-16:Ald, (E)-11-hexadecenal (Ell-16:Ald), Z13–18:Ald and (E)-13-octadecenal (E13–18:Ald), (10:1:10:1). Within the range of 20 to 2000 μg pheromone/dispenser, response of males increased positively with the pheromone dose; however, a load of 10 or 20 mg/dispenser was significantly less attractive to males than 2 mg/dispenser. The effect of aging of the dispenser in the field on trapping efficiency was significant. Captures in traps baited with 3- and 4-week-old septa were lower than those in traps baited with 1- or 2-week-old septa. The gradual loss of attractancy exhibited by rubber septa indicates that septa should be renewed within 2-3 weeks. The release rate of the pheromone was measured in a flow system and monitored with Zl1– 16:Ald only. The emission was almost constant for 18 days and then decreased gradually until the 34th day. The nonsticky IPS trap was as effective in capturing honeydew moth males as the sticky Pherocon 1C trap. The possibility of using the nonsticky, non-saturating and easy-to-handle IPS traps may lead to better and easier monitoring of honeydew moth populations.