Moth Caterpillars Research Articles

Binary Floral Lure Attractive to Velvetbean Caterpillar Adults (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

ABSTRACT Evaluation of combinations of flower odor compounds in northern Florida revealed that linalool was synergistic in attractiveness with phenylacetaldehyde (PAA) to the migratory moth velvetbean caterpillar (Anticarsia gemmatalis Hubner). This noctuid was the most common species collected from traps with a binary lure composed of PAA and linalool, with over 900 males and females collected in Sep 2005 and almost 13,000 collected in a 4-week period in Aug and Sep 2006. Different lid openings of the vials containing the chemical blend in an attempt to vary the release rate of the binary lure did not affect the number of velvetbean caterpillar moths captured. Traps baited with the binary lure and placed in May, Jun and early Jul of 2005 and 2009 failed to capture adults demonstrating the absence of adult moths early in the season. Management application of floral attractants in an attract-and-kill strategy is discussed. Translation provided by the authors.

Preference and performance of the gypsy moth cater­pillars on sweet chestnut and some oak species

In the establishment of mixed plantations, it is necessary to examine previously the relations of the principal and the admixed species and the most significant pests. This paper presents the results of the study of the gypsy moth caterpillar preference and performance on sweet chestnut and four oak species. Preference index is the highest for Hungarian oak (0.83) and Turkey oak (0.77), for sessile oak it is significantly lower (0.33), and for common oak it is equal to 0. In combination with sweet chestnut, the gypsy moth second-instar caterpillars prefer Hungarian oak, i.e. Turkey oak leaves. In combination with sessile oak or common oak, the gypsy moth caterpillars prefer sweet chestnut leaves. The analyzed parameters which characterise the performance of the gypsy moth fourth-instar caterpillars are lower for all study oak species compared to sweet chestnut, except in the case of Turkey oak. Based on the study results and the adopted principle that the mixture should be composed of the most favourable species, which will serve as the 'trap plant' during the gypsy moth outbreak, it can be concluded that Turkey oak is more favourable for the mixture with sweet chestnut than the other analyzed oak species.

Gypsy Moth Infestation and an Outbreak of Dermatitis Caused by Gypsy Moth Caterpillars in Kuzumaki Town in Iwate Prefecture

Gypsy Moth Infestation and an Outbreak of Dermatitis Caused by Gypsy Moth Caterpillars in Kuzumaki Town in Iwate Prefecture

Report of Entomopathogenic Fungi on Adults of Lepidopteran Pests in Rice

Fungal infection on moths of lepidopteran pests of rice plant has been witnessed in certain parts of Tamil Nadu. Three entomopathogenic fungi viz., Mucor hiemalis Fusarium moniliformae and Scopulariopsis sp. have been isolated from the yellow rice borer, leaffolder cutworm and yellow hairy caterpillar moths of rice ecosystem. All the fungi are found pathogenic. In laboratory evaluation spore suspensions of moth infecting fungi each at concentration of lxl07 spores/ml revealed their virulence against yellow rice borer, leaf foldt;r and cutworm with 60, 61.60 and 52.6 per cent mortality.

Community consequences of herbivore‐induced bottom–up trophic cascades: the importance of resource heterogeneity

1. Herbivory often changes resource quality for herbivorous insects through induced plant responses depending on the intensity of damage. We hypothesized that the willow's response following herbivory affects the entire arthropod community structure on the tree due to changes in plant quality. To examine this hypothesis, we investigated arthropod communities on three willow species, Salix gilgiana, Salix eriocarpa and Salix serissaefolia. 2. In our common garden, cuttings were established in 2003 and experimental treatments were applied in 2005. Damage by a boring caterpillar of a swift moth (Endoclita excrescens) and artificial cutting of 25% stems were applied as partial herbivory within individual trees, and 100% cutting of stems was applied to represent severe herbivory to whole individual trees. These treatments stimulated lateral shoot production depending on damage intensity, resulting in full compensation for biomass loss. 3. Positive relationships were detected between within-tree variation in foliar nitrogen content and overall abundance/species richness of herbivores. Moth boring and 25% cutting increased herbivore abundance and species richness relative to controls. However, we found no significant differences in herbivore abundance and species richness between 100% cut and control trees. Community composition of herbivore species was significantly different between the following three groups: (i) bored and 25% cut; (ii) 100% cut; and (iii) control trees. Changes in community structure of herbivores were likely due to changes in plant quality depending on the intensity of damage. 4. Although total predator abundance and species richness were not significantly different among treatments, community composition of predator species was significantly different among treatments. 5. These results indicate that herbivore-induced willow responses can largely determine the entire arthropod community structure of multitrophic levels due to changes in plant quality. We suggest that heterogeneous resource conditions induced by herbivory within and among plant individuals increase the species diversity of arthropods.

Host resistance reverses the outcome of competition between microparasites

Predators and parasites can control the abundance or biomass of herbivores with indirect effects on producer communities and ecosystems, but the interplay of multiple natural enemies may yield unexpected dynamics. We experimentally examined interactions between two microparasites (entomopathogenic nematodes) isolated from sandy grassland soils of coastal California: Heterorhabditis marelatus (Heterorhabditidae) and Steinernema feltiae (Steinernematidae). Heterorhabditis marelatus drives trophic cascades by attacking root- and stem-boring ghost moth caterpillars (Hepialus californicus, Hepialidae), thereby indirectly protecting bush lupine shrubs (Lupinus arboreus, Fabaceae). Extensive field surveys demonstrated sympatric overlap in microhabitat use under lupine canopies and similar mean prevalence of the two nematode species. Using a response-surface design in the laboratory, we varied relative and absolute microparasite densities to test for competitive outcomes within an evolutionary naive host, larvae of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella (Pyralidae), and within the native host Hepialus californicus. Independent of conspecific or interspecific density, S. feltiae dominated as expected over H. marelatus within the naive Galleria, but S. feltiae infected hosts at low frequency and showed lower reproductive fitness than H. marelatus within native Hepialus hosts. Contrary to studies that demonstrate the pairwise dominance of steinernematid over heterorhabditid species in laboratory hosts, host resistance to S. feltiae may provide a mechanism for coexistence of multiple microparasite species. We hypothesize that the ubiquitous field prevalence and rapid life history of S. feltiae imply its use of widespread, abundant but small-bodied hosts and indicate the lack of direct competition with H. marelatus in the Hepialus-Lupinus trophic cascade.

Herbivore-Induced Volatiles in the Perennial Shrub, Vaccinium corymbosum, and Their Role in Inter-branch Signaling

Herbivore feeding activates plant defenses at the site of damage as well as systemically. Systemic defenses can be induced internally by signals transported via phloem or xylem, or externally transmitted by volatiles emitted from the damaged tissues. We investigated the role of herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) in activating a defense response between branches in blueberry plants. Blueberries are perennial shrubs that grow by initiating adventitious shoots from a basal crown, which produce new lateral branches. This type of growth constrains vascular connections between shoots and branches within plants. While we found that leaves within a branch were highly connected, vascular connectivity was limited between branches within shoots and absent between branches from different shoots. Larval feeding by gypsy moth, exogenous methyl jasmonate, and mechanical damage differentially induced volatile emissions in blueberry plants, and there was a positive correlation between amount of insect damage and volatile emission rates. Herbivore damage did not affect systemic defense induction when we isolated systemic branches from external exposure to HIPVs. Thus, internal signals were not capable of triggering systemic defenses among branches. However, exposure of branches to HIPVs from an adjacent branch decreased larval consumption by 70% compared to those exposed to volatiles from undamaged branches. This reduction in leaf consumption did not result in decreased volatile emissions, indicating that leaves became more responsive to herbivory (or "primed") after being exposed to HIPVs. Chemical profiles of leaves damaged by gypsy moth caterpillars, exposed to HIPVs, or non-damaged controls revealed that HIPV-exposed leaves had greater chemical similarities to damaged leaves than to control leaves. Insect-damaged leaves and young HIPV-exposed leaves had higher amounts of endogenous cis-jasmonic acid compared to undamaged and non-exposed leaves, respectively. Our results show that exposure to HIPVs triggered systemic induction of direct defenses against gypsy moth and primed volatile emissions, which can be an indirect defense. Blueberry plants appear to rely on HIPVs as external signals for inter-branch communication.

Astemizole and an analogue promote fungicidal activity of fluconazole against Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii and Cryptococcus gattii

Cryptococcus neoformans is the leading cause of fungal meningitis, a life-threatening infection that occurs predominately in immuocompromised patients. Current drug therapies are limited to amphotericin B, flucytosine and the azoles since the echinocandins have no demonstrated activity against yeast like pathogens. Fluconazole, a drug belonging to the azole class and often the only available antifungal in the developing world, is fungistatic and therefore not effective in clearing cryptococcal infections in immunosuppressed individuals. Here we report that astemizole and a closely related analog (A2) promoted in vitro fungicidal activity of fluconazole against Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii and Cryptococcus gattii. Astemizole, a second-generation antihistamine drug used as an H1 antagonist, has also been found to have antimalarial activity. Disk diffusion assays and MIC and MFC analysis confirmed that the inhibitory concentrations of these drug combinations were fungicidal. When tested in vivo, astemizole or A2 in combination with fluconazole significantly improved the survival of Galleria mellonella (wax moth caterpillar) that had been previously challenged with C. neoformans but not when caterpillars were challenged with a fluconazole-resistant strain. The findings reported here suggest that fungicidal combinations between azoles and other existing drugs may represent an alternative strategy for improving treatments for fungal infections.

Attractiveness of binary blends of floral odorant compounds to moths in Florida, USA

AbstractEvaluation of combinations of flower odor compounds in the field revealed several compounds that were attractive or co‐attractive with phenylacetaldehyde (PAA) to pest noctuid and pyralid moths. A number of moth species responded positively to the key floral odorant PAA. The floral odorants cis‐jasmone, linalool, benzyl acetate, limonene, β‐myrcene, methyl salicylate, and methyl 2‐methoxybenzoate all increased captures of some moths when added to traps with PAA, but responses varied among the moth species that were trapped. For example, soybean looper moths, Pseudoplusia includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), most strongly responded to PAA + β‐myrcene, but benzyl acetate, cis‐jasmone, and limonene also increased captures of these moths when these compounds were used in traps along with PAA. Velvetbean caterpillar moths, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), responded most strongly to PAA + linalool, but β‐myrcene, cis‐jasmone, and limonene also increased captures of these moths in traps over numbers trapped with PAA. Positive responses to floral compound blends were also noted for golden looper [Argyrogramma verruca (F.)], grass looper [Mocis disseverans (Walker)], tobacco budworm [Heliothis virescens (F.)], southern armyworm [Spodoptera eridania (Stoll) (all Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)], and melonworm [Diaphania hyalinata (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)]. Overall, PAA + β‐myrcene appeared to be the strongest floral compound combination for pest species trapped, compared to PAA or other compound blends.

Potential interactions between invasive woody shrubs and the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), an invasive insect herbivore

As the range of the invasive and highly polyphagous gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) expands, it increasingly overlaps with forest areas that have been subject to invasion by non-native shrubs. We explored the potential for interactions between these co-occurring invasions through a gypsy moth feeding trial using the following three highly invasive, exotic shrubs: honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii), privet (Ligustrum sinense) and burning bush (Euonymus alatus). We compared these with two native shrubs: spicebush (Lindera benzoin) and pawpaw (Asimina triloba). We fed gypsy moth caterpillars foliage exclusively from one of the five shrubs and measured their relative consumptive rate (RCR), relative growth rate (RGR), and development time (DT). The RCR of gypsy moth was strongly influenced by the species of foliage (F = 31.9; P < 0.0001) with little or no consumption of honeysuckle and privet. Caterpillar RGR was influenced by the shrub species (F = 66.2; P < 0.0001), and those caterpillars fed spicebush, honeysuckle or privet lost weight over the course of the assay. Caterpillar DT was also significantly (F = 11.79, P < 0.0001) influenced by the shrub species and those fed honeysuckle, privet and spicebush died prior to molting. Overall, our data suggest that honeysuckle, privet, and spicebush could benefit (indirectly) from the invasion of gypsy moth, while burning bush and pawpaw could be negatively impacted due to direct effects (herbivory). Similarly, invading gypsy moth populations could be sustained on a shrub layer of burning bush and pawpaw in the event of canopy defoliation. Further field and laboratory analysis is needed to clarify herbivore resistance of invasive shrubs, and to investigate the potential interactions among co-occurring insect and plant invasions.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF VERTEBRATE HERBIVORES ON INVERTEBRATES IN A COASTAL DUNE COMMUNITY

Although competition has been a major focus in ecology for the past century, most empirical and theoretical studies in this area have emphasized interactions between closely related species. However, there is growing evidence that negative interactions among distantly related taxa also occur and may be far more important than previously thought. In this study, we took advantage of an 11-year-old replicated vertebrate-exclosure experiment in a coastal dune community in northern California, USA, to examine the effects of the two most common vertebrate herbivores (jackrabbits and black-tailed deer) on the abundance of the three most visible invertebrate herbivores (two snail, a moth, and a grasshopper species). Our results indicate that four of the six possible pairwise interactions were significantly negative for the invertebrates. Jackrabbits reduced the abundances of snails by 44-75%, tiger moth caterpillars by 36%, and grasshoppers by 62%. Deer reduced the abundances of snails by 32%, increased the abundances of caterpillars by 31%, and had no measurable effect on grasshopper abundance. Our data also revealed that jackrabbits significantly decreased the volume of forbs and common shrubs and the flowering by grasses in our study plots. We were unable to detect an effect of deer on these measures of vegetation. These results suggest that by changing vegetation, jackrabbits may reduce invertebrate populations that are limited by food, protective structures, or microclimate provided by plants. Of these three mechanisms, only shade was strongly supported as limiting snail numbers in smaller-scale manipulations. In most systems, as in this one, the number of pairs of distantly related herbivores far exceeds the number of pairs of congeners. Since interactions among distantly related herbivores may be common in many cases, these interactions are likely to be important and should receive far more attention from ecologists.

Potentially dangerous fusarioid microorganisms associated with rot of hops (Humulus lupulus L.) plants in field culture

Several fusarioid microorganisms were isolated as potential pathogens of hop (&lt;i&gt;Humulus lupulus&lt;/I&gt; L.) but their virulence was not proved in inoculation trials in field conditions. Molecular search for other possible pathogens was then performed. Using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP), &lt;i&gt;Gibberella pulicaris&lt;/I&gt; (anamorph: &lt;i&gt;Fusarium sambucinum&lt;/I&gt;) was identified as a probable cause of the hop wilting. The primary cause of the disease is wounding of hop crowns by feeding of rosy rustic moth (&lt;i&gt;Hydraecia micacea&lt;/I&gt;) caterpillars or by defect pruning and other unfavourable circumstances. The specific primer HLf1 was designed that can be used to detect the pathogen in soil and in damaged plant tissues.

Leaf variegation in Caladium steudneriifolium (Araceae): a case of mimicry?

The leaves of Caladium steudneriifolium (Araceae) of the understorey of a submontane rainforest in the Podocarpus National Park (South East Ecuador, 1,060 m a.s.l.) are plain green or patterned with whitish variegation. Of the 3,413 individual leaves randomly chosen and examined in April 2003, two-thirds were plain green, whereas one third were variegated (i.e., whitish due to absence of chloroplasts). Leaves of both morphs are frequently attacked by mining moth caterpillars. Our BLAST analysis based on Cytochrome-c-Oxidase-subunit-1 sequences suggests that the moth is possibly a member of the Pyraloidea or another microlepidopteran group. It was observed that the variegated leaf zones strongly resemble recent damages caused by mining larvae and therefore may mimic an attack by moth larvae. Infestation was significantly 4–12 times higher for green leaves than for variegated leaves. To test the hypothesis that variegation can be interpreted as mimicry to deter ovipositing moths, we first ruled out the possibility that variegation is a function of canopy density (i.e., that the moths might be attracted or deterred by factors unrelated to the plant). Then plain green leaves were artificially variegated and the number of mining larvae counted after 3 months. The results on infestation rate (7.88% of green leaves, 1.61% of the variegated leaves, 0.41% of white manipulated leaves and 9.12% of uncoloured manipulated leaves) suggest that ovipositing moths are deterred by the miner-infestation mimicry. Thus, variegation might be beneficial for the plants despite the implicated loss of photosynthetically active surface.

Host plant effect on the activity of digestive enzymes of the gypsy moth caterpillars

Insect growth and development depend on nutritive value and secondary metabolite content of their host plants. This influence may be exerted through changing the activity of digestive enzymes which further affects efficiency of conversion of ingested food. This paper represents the results of investigation of feeding effects on the leaves of three oak species (Quercus cerris, Q. robur and Q. petraea) on growth, development and digestive enzyme activities of the 4th instar gypsy moth larvae (Lymantria dispar L.). Compared to larvae fed on Q. cerris and Q. robur leaves, larvae fed on Q. petrea exhibited the lowest body mass, midgut protein content and specific protease activity. Specific amylase activity was significantly reduced in the midguts of larvae fed on Q. robur while host plant did not affect larval duration upon molting into the 4th instar. Concomitant chemical analyses of leaves given to the 2nd and 4th instar larvae was carried out in order to explain the obtained results.

Evaluation of the parasitoid Copidosoma koehleri for biological control of the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella, in Israeli potato fields

The potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a major agricultural pest of solaneceous crops in warm countries worldwide. The encyrtid polyembryonic parasitoid Copidosoma koehleri (Blanchard) has been successfully introduced for biological control of the moth in potato fields in South Africa and Australia; however, augmentative releases of the parasitoid in trial plots and in commercial potato fields in Israel did not reduce pest populations or infestation levels more than chemical treatment. Copidosoma koehleri accounted for 4–5% of parasitism on tuber moth caterpillars, while most parasitism was due to local species of larval parasitoids. The abundance and composition of local parasitoids did not differ between C. koehleri release plots and conventionally treated control plots. These findings can be interpreted as failure of the introduced parasitoids to survive and locate their hosts, or as mortality of C. koehleri within hosts in the field. Sentinel hosts, placed in trial plots and collected after 24 h, were rarely parasitised by C. koehleri, supporting the first interpretation. To test the second hypothesis, hosts parasitised by C. koehleri were placed in field plots for a week, collected, and reared out in the laboratory. The emergence rates of C. koehleri from these hosts resembled those of lab-reared controls, suggesting that mortality within hosts in the field is not a major cause of C. koehleri's poor biocontrol performance.

Ant‐ and plant‐mediated indirect effects induced by aphid colonization on herbivorous insects on tall goldenrod

AbstractWe studied the indirect effects of an aphid Uroleucon nigrotuberculatum on density and performance of herbivorous insects through tending ants and modification of plant traits on a tall goldenrod Solidago altissima in Japan. To examine ant‐mediated indirect effects of the aphid on the leafhopper and geometrid moth caterpillars, we conducted an experiment in which we manipulated aphid densities. The aphid decreased the density of these herbivorous insects through ant‐mediated indirect effects, because honeydew scattered by the aphid‐attracted ants that then removed them. To examine plant‐mediated indirect effects of the aphid on two temporally separated insects, a scale insect and a grasshopper, we compared the density and performance of these herbivorous insects on aphid‐inoculated plants and aphid‐free plants. Aphid‐induced plant modifications had different effects on the scale insect and grasshopper. The aphid indirectly decreased the density and survivorship of the scale insect. On the other hand, the number of grasshoppers increased as a result of the increased number of leaves and the increased nitrogen content induced by prior aphid feeding. However, aphid infestation did not affect the survival of the grasshopper. Thus, the aphid has large indirect effects on co‐occurring herbivorous insects through the removal behavior of tending ants and on temporally separated herbivorous insects through changes in quality and quantity of the tall goldenrod.

The parasitoid of a fruit moth caterpillar utilizes fruit components as nutrient source to increase its longevity and fertility

Longevity and fecundity of female wasps are two decisive factors for the effectiveness of parasitoid species as biological control agents. Accessibility and suitability of nutrient sources determine parasitoid survival and reproduction. Host, nectar and honeydew feeding are frequent adult parasitoid behaviors to cover nutritional needs. Here we postulate that especially parasitoid species of endophytic herbivores might use plant tissue as a nutrient source that becomes accessible upon herbivory. We investigated the influence of plant consumption and host feeding on longevity and fecundity of Hyssopus pallidus, a gregarious ecto-parasitoid of caterpillars of the codling moth that feed inside apple fruits. Longevity of unmated and mated ovipositing female parasitoids was highest in treatments with fruit pulp. While longevity in this treatment was not significantly different from that with honey, it was significantly higher than in treatments without food, with water or with a host alone. Reproduction was significantly increased by these sugar-rich nutrient sources compared to the control with a host alone. In contrast, host feeding did not yield any significant contribution to longevity and fecundity in a series of bioassays with different host–parasitoid ratios and with differently aged and sized hosts, compared to controls without food. We conclude that in this synovigenic species host feeding does not contribute to longevity and fecundity, but females can increase survival and reproduction in the field relying solely on the plant tissue damaged by their host caterpillar.

Pheromone Trap for the Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth

The discovery that the eastern tent caterpillar Malacosoma americanum (F.) causes mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS), and thus has the potential to continue to result in major economic losses to the equine industry of Kentucky, has resulted in an intensive effort to identify practical means to monitor and control this defoliator, including these experiments to optimize a sex pheromone trap for this pest. A pheromone-baited delta trap with a large opening, such as InterceptST Delta, was more effective than other tested traps. Orange delta traps caught more moths than other tested colors. ETC males are caught at all tested heights within the tree canopy. For monitoring flights, setting traps at 1.5 m would allow easy counting of moths. A 9:1 blend of (E,Z)-5,7-dodecadienal (ETC-Ald) and (E,Z)-5,7-dodecadienol (ETC-OH) was most effective in capturing males. Increasing loading doses of a 3:1 blend (Ald:OH) resulted in the capture of increasing numbers of moths, but a 9:1 blend was more effective than 3:1 blend even at a nine-fold lower loading rate. Pheromone-impregnated white septa caught more moths than gray septa at the same loading dose. The advantages and limitations of using pheromone traps for monitoring M. americanum are discussed.

Results on mating disruption by sex pheromones against moth pests of apple in integrated and organic orchards

The study was aimed to study that how mating disruption by hand applied dispensers can reduce the number of damage caused by Cydia pomonella, Adoxophyes orana and Pandemis heparana in four integrated and organic apple orchards. In the first orchard (Gacsály), protection against moth caterpillars ensured by IPM and conventional production systems were equally good, but worse than that of the orchard part where mating disruption was applied by 1000 dispensers/ha. In second orchard (Nyírbogdány), the highest incidence of codling moth damage was measured in the hilly part (17%), while in the plot where 440 dispensers/ha pheromone dosage was applied, the damage incidence was 11%. The smallest damage incidence was at the flat part, where 666 dispensers /ha was applied. In the third and fourth orchards (Eperjeske), codling moth damage on fruits was below 7% in the larger and smaller orchards where 1000 dispensers/ha was applied. At Eperjeske, the codling moth damage increased by 32.3% in the field treated with Bacillus thuringiensis product but without using mating disruption. The results verified that the use of 1000 dispensers/ha as suggested by the manufactures is essential, especially in the first year of application. The results also suggested that better results can be achieved in flat areas and the larger plot size also enables a more efficient reduction of the damage.

Sex pheromone of the larch caterpillar moth, Dendrolimus superans, from northeastern China

AbstractThe larch caterpillar moth, Dendrolimus superans Butler (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), is a serious pest in the northeastern part of China. In order to develop an effective method for monitoring D. superans, we began a project to identify the sex pheromone of D. superans and preliminary results were published in a note in 2001. Here we report complete laboratory and field results to support the identification. (Z,E)‐5,7‐Dodecadienal, (Z,E)‐5,7‐dodecadienol, (Z)‐5‐dodecenol, and (Z)‐5‐dodecenal (100:95:75:71) were identified by gas chromatography (GC) and coupled GC‐mass spectrometry in extracts of pheromone glands of female D. superans. However, only (Z,E)‐5,7‐dodecadienal elicited strong responses from conspecific male antennae in coupled GC‐electroantennography studies. Field tests with synthetic compounds indicated that baits containing (Z,E)‐5,7‐dodecadienal as a single component attracted male D. superans moths, whereas addition of one, two, or all three of the possible minor components did not increase the attractiveness of lures. (Z,E)‐5,7‐Dodecadienyl acetate, one of the pheromone components in sympatric Dendrolimus species, was antagonistic, but the analog (Z,E)‐5,7‐dodecadienyl propionate, another pheromone component in sympatric Dendrolimus species, was not. Since 2005, pheromone traps baited with (Z,E)‐5,7‐dodecadienal have been used effectively for monitoring populations of D. superans in various areas of northeastern China.