Synthetic Pheromone Research Articles

Identification and characterization of the Komagataella phaffii mating pheromone genes.

The methylotrophic yeast Komagataella phaffii (Pichia pastoris) is a haploid yeast that is able to form diploid cells by mating once nitrogen becomes limiting. Activation of the mating response requires the secretion of a- and α-factor pheromones, which bind to G-protein coupled receptors on cells of opposite mating type. In K. phaffii, the genes coding for the α-factor (MFα), the pheromone surface receptors and the conserved a-factor biogenesis pathway have been annotated previously. Initial homology-based search failed to identify potential a-factor genes (MFA). By using transcriptome data of heterothallic strains under mating conditions, we found two K. phaffiia-factor genes. Deletion of both MFA genes prevented mating of a-type cells. MFA single mutants were still able to mate and activate the mating response pathway in α-type cells. A reporter assay was used to confirm the biological activity of synthetic a- and α-factor peptides. The identification of the a-factor genes enabled the first characterization of the role and regulation of the mating pheromone genes and the response of K. phaffii to synthetic pheromones and will help to gain a better understanding of the mating behavior of K. phaffii.

Capture of Prionus laticollis (Drury, 1773) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in New York, U.S.A., in traps baited with the sex pheromone of Prionus californicus Motschulsky, 1845

Prionus laticollis (Drury, 1773) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), the broad necked root borer, is a known pest of numerous woody plant species. Larvae feed on and can severely damage roots and lower trunks, causing decline or structural weakness. It has been documented infesting commercial apple plantings in New York and New England, notably in recent years when infestations caused tree decline and death in an established orchard in Northport, New York. As with other Prionus species found in the U.S.A., males are attracted to all four isomers of 3,5-dimethyldodecanoic acid, the female-produced sex pheromone of the related species, P. californicus Motschulsky, 1845. We conducted field trials using a commercial mix of this pheromone to monitor occurrence, phenology and abundance of P. laticollis in several orchard and mixed hardwood habitats in New York from 2010–2015. Male beetles were readily captured in all locations using pitfall traps baited with a commercial synthetic pheromone blend of all possible isomers, with maximum seasonal totals of 112–145 beetles per site. The first beetles were captured from 19 June to 4 July, corresponding to 436–691 degree-days (base 10°C) from 1 January, depending on year and location. A 2012 lure comparison between the single-isomer natural pheromone and the four-isomer blend showed no significant differences in numbers of beetles captured. Beetle catch generally peaked within two weeks of initial flight each year, with most activity occurring throughout July. A distinct decrease in beetle numbers was noted at the Geneva location over the course of repeated annual trapping trials, possibly reflecting a negative impact on the local population.

Does mating disruption of Planococcus ficus and Lobesia botrana affect the diversity, abundance and composition of natural enemies in Israeli vineyards?

Mating disruption (MD) employs high doses of a pest's synthetic sex pheromone in agricultural plots, to interfere with its reproduction. MD is assumed to have few behavioral effects on non-target arthropods, because sex pheromones are highly species-specific and non-toxic. Nevertheless, some natural enemies use their host's sex pheromones as foraging cues, and thus may be attracted to MD plots. To investigate this hypothesis, we compared parasitoid and spider assemblages in paired plots in five Israeli vineyards during 2015. One plot was MD-treated against two key pests, Lobesia botrana (Denis & Schiffermüller) and Planococcus ficus (Signoret). Both plots were insecticide-treated as needed. Natural enemies were suction-sampled and collected from pheromone-baited monitoring traps. The total abundance, species diversity and species composition of most natural enemies were unaffected by MD. An important exception involved P. ficus' main parasitoid, Anagyrus sp. nr. pseudococci (Girault). Anagyrus sp. nr. pseudococci females were mainly captured in control plots, while male captures were low and not influenced by MD. Parasitized P. ficus occurred only in MD plots. Non-target effects of MD involved mostly A. sp. nr. pseudococci females and hardly affected other natural enemies. These findings support the use of MD as an environmentally friendly pest management strategy. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Geographic variation in pheromone component ratio and antennal responses, but not in attraction, to sex pheromones among fall armyworm populations infesting corn in Mexico

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is one of the most important pests of corn in Latin America. This insect presents two strains with behavioural and genetic differences. In Mexico, both strains are present, and at least two different FAW populations have been reported within the corn-strain. The objective of this study was to gather evidence of whether pheromonal communication varies among different S. frugiperda populations infesting corn in Mexico. First, we investigated any qualitative or quantitative difference in the composition of sex pheromones among populations; second, we studied whether male antennal responses to pheromone components vary among populations; and, finally, we investigated whether males from a region can discriminate between a synthetic pheromone blend characteristic of their region and blends formulated with the ratio of pheromone compounds emitted by females from other populations. Sex pheromone components were sampled by solid-phase microextraction and identified by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Females from all populations consistently released three compounds: (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9-14:OAc), (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate (Z11-16:OAc) and (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate (Z7-12:OAc). Our results showed that Z9-14:OAc and Z7-12:OAc evoked the highest and most variable antennal responses among the populations studied compared to Z11-16:OAc. However, males did not discriminate between local pheromone blends and those formulated from other populations in a field test. These results show that although there is geographic variation in the ratio of pheromone components and in the peripheral reception of them, males were not differentially attracted to different pheromone blends in the field.

Colony-level non-associative plasticity of alarm responses in the stingless honey bee, Tetragonisca angustula.

In ants, bees, and other social Hymenoptera alarm pheromones are widely employed to coordinate colony nest defense. In that context, alarm pheromones elicit innate species-specific defensive behaviors. Therefore, in terms of classical conditioning, an alarm pheromone could act as an unconditioned stimulus (US). Here we test this hypothesis by establishing whether repeated exposure to alarm pheromone in different testing contexts modifies the alarm response. We evaluate colony level alarm responses in the stingless bee, Tetragonisca angustula, which has a morphologically distinct guard caste. First, we describe the overall topology of defense behaviors in the presence of an alarm pheromone. Second, we show that repeated, regular exposure to synthetic alarm pheromone reduces different components of the alarm response, and memory of that exposure decays over time. This observed decrease followed by recovery occurs over different time frames and is consistent with behavioral habituation. We further tested whether the alarm pheromone can act as a US to classically condition guards to modify their defense behaviors in the presence of a novel (conditioned) stimulus (CS). We found no consistent changes in the response to the CS. Our study demonstrates the possibility that colony-level alarm responses can be adaptively modified by experience in response to changing environmental threats. Further studies are now needed to reveal the extent of these habituation-like responses in regard to other pheromones, the potential mechanisms that underlie this phenomenon, and the range of adaptive contexts in which they function at the colony level.

Factors Influencing Mating Behavior and Success in the Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae).

The effects of body size, age, feeding and mating status, conspecific volatiles from live adults, synthetic aggregation pheromone, and a pheromone synergist, ethyl acetate, on the mating behavior of red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier, were investigated. To evaluate these factors, variables such as mating latency, frequency and duration, and refractory period were assessed. While both, body size and age, influenced the mating behavior, the latter showed a stronger effect. The large males recorded frequent and longer matings, whereas the young males outperformed the old weevils in all the studied variables. The difference in body size or age of females showed a limited effect. After 72h without food, the males showed a significant decline in mating frequency and duration, and refractory period. Mating status showed comparatively stronger effects on mating variables. In the case of females, mating status emerged as the most important factor affecting four out of five variables. The volatiles from the males, grouped males and females, and synthetic aggregation pheromone both alone and in combination with ethyl acetate triggered mating initiation, propelled mating frequency, prolonged total mating duration, and reduced the refractory period. However, the presence of females or ethyl acetate alone was a weak mating stimulator.

The effects of non-host plant extracts on electroantennogram responses, behavior and egg hatching of codling moth, Cydia pomonella

The codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.) is a significant pest of pome fruit throughout the world. Behavioral and ovicidal activities of five non-host plant extracts (Arctium lappa, Bifora radians, Humulus lupulus, Verbascum songaricum, Xanthium strumarium), synthetic sex pheromone, (E,E)-8,10-dodecadienol (codlemone), and the plant volatile lure, (2E,4Z)-2,4-decadienoate (pear ester) were evaluated against the codling moth, C. pomonella L. Codlemone elicited the greatest electroantennogram (EAG) response (6.2 ± 1.2 mV) of the compounds tested from male C. pomonella while pear ester elicited 1.7 ± 0.1 mV EAG response in female moths. Codlemone attracted 34.5% of male C. pomonella in olfactometer studies, and it was followed by the X. strumarium extract with 24.8%. There was a significant difference between the behavior of unmated and mated females. V. songaricum extract was the most active extract, attracting 25.4% of unmated females. However, mated C. pomonella females exhibited greatest attraction to pear ester. In a wind tunnel bioassay, combining X. strumarium with codlemone significantly increased the response of male upwind flight and source contact as compared with codlemone alone. All plant extracts, except for V. songaricum, significantly reduced the number of eggs laid. The plant extracts exhibited some toxic effects to eggs, and hatching rate of eggs was reduced as compared with the control. Our results indicate that some of the plant extracts tested are potential candidates for practical use after elucidation and characterization of active compound(s).

Design and placement of synthetic sex pheromone traps for cacao mirids in Ghana

AbstractCacao mirids (Sahlbergella singularis,Distantiella theobromaandBryocoropsis laticollis) were captured in pheromone traps releasing a 2:1 blend of the sex pheromone components of the two first named species in a series of five experiments on cacao (Theobroma cacao) plantations in Ghana. A total of 835 cacao mirids were caught, all male, 95% of which wereS. singularis, 3%D. theobromaand 2%B. laticollis.Two sticky trap and two water trap designs made from locally available materials were as effective for capturingS. singularisand total mirids as the best sticky trap from previously reported studies. Coating the outer surface of a large water trap with sticker increased the catch 4.4×, and 2.7× for a cylindrical sticky trap. Sticker on the outside of the water trap also increased the inside catch ofS. singularisby 76% and total mirids by 71%. The numbers ofS. singularisandD. theobromatrapped increased with increasing trap elevation and were highest around canopy level. Those traps caught an average 12× more mirids than traps at 1.8 m, the height recommended currently. Therefore, large water traps coated with sticker and aligned with the cacao canopy should raise the current capture rates of pheromone traps for cacao mirids about 50×, which may be sufficient for effective pest management by mass trapping without synthetic insecticides.

Turning workers into false queens: the role of exogenous pheromones in regulating reproduction in worker honey bees.

One of the responses that honey bee workers can make in the event of queen loss is to develop into false queens. False queens are workers that exhibit both behavioural and physiological traits similar to those of a true queen. However, the presence of more than one false queen in a colony distorts the established hierarchies. As transformation into a false queen occurs after emergence as an adult, we tested the effect of worker mobile pheromone carriers (PCs) treated with exogenously supplied pheromones on their nestmates. The PCs carried either synthetic mandibular gland pheromones or pheromones extracted from Apis melliferacapensis parasitic workers. Only the PCs attracted retinues of workers, increased pheromone production and activated their ovaries, becoming false queens. Pheromones from A. m.capensis workers were more effective than extracts of commercially available synthetic queen pheromones in eliciting these effects. Using this simple mobile pheromone delivery system, we have shown that carrying amounts of exogenous pheromone can induce pheromone production in the carrier, resulting in the production of false queens within experimental groups. Possible implications of using this technique to modify and regulate worker reproduction in colonies are discussed.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of the Sex Pheromone of the Asian Corn Borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée)

A convenient total synthesis of (Z)-12-tetradecenyl acetate (1a) and (E)-12-tetradecenyl acetate (1b), which are the sex pheromones of Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée), has been achieved. The target mixture molecules, of a cis-to-trans-isomer ratio of 27 to 73, were synthesized in 40% overall yield and through [13C + 1C] synthetic strategy in five steps from commercially available and cheap industrial brassylic acid as key starting material. The electroantennogram (EAG) responses of synthetic sex pheromone to ACB male moths were conducted. The results showed that the target mixture molecules were found to have a good activity and displayed significantly stronger EAG responses ranging from 10 to 1000 μg, and the optimized stimulating dosage of the activity of synthetic sex pheromone to ACB males is 10 μg. Compared with the existing routes, this synthetic approach is operationally simple, good-yielding, and cost-effective, which could serve as a basis for developing the techniques of sex pheromone mass trapping or mating disruption and providing an environmentally benign method to control ACB pests.

Female Responses to Synthetic Pheromone and Plant Compounds in Agriotes brevis Candeze (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

Traps baited with synthetic pheromone components of Agriotes brevis [geranyl butanoate + (E,E)-farnesyl butanoate] captured significantly higher numbers of not only male, but also female beetles, compared to unbaited controls. Catches of both sexes showed a clear positive relationship with increasing doses. In electroantennogram tests, antennal responses of females and males to a number of known Agriotes pheromone components, identified from pheromone glands, showed a similar trend, with geranyl butanoate eliciting the strongest responses. This suggests that the female and male A. brevis antennae are similar with respect to the perception of pheromone compounds, and female beetles have the sensory capabilities to perceive the pheromone components which they produce. Addition of the plant-derived compounds (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, methyl benzoate, (Z)-3-hexenol and methyl salicylate (identified earlier from foliage as attractive for A. brevis) to the synthetic pheromone significantly increased catches. All the above results suggest that geranyl butanoate and (E,E)-farnesyl butanoate are constituents of an aggregation pheromone of A. brevis, in contrast to the general view of click beetle pheromones being “classical” sex pheromones. These findings could be useful for more precise monitoring and forecasting of damage, based on female catches.

On the reasons of European corn borer synthetic pheromone low activity in new northern centers of the insect harmfulness on maize

Pheromone trap trials in the North of Voronezh Region have testified that their attractiveness to males of local populations belonging to Z-race of the European corn borer strongly depends on a distance to the place of adult eclosion, i.e. the field where maize grew last year. A hypothesis comes into question that sexual and reproductive behaviour of adults in new north and traditional south regions of the European corn borer damage to maize realize in accordance with alternative models, optimizing the usage of feed resources depending on their abundance for insects. As well, ideas have been put forward with respect to improving the monitoring and optimizing pest control measures in the northern focal points of the European corn borer harmfulness.

Synthesis and field examinations of the sex pheromone of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam

The diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) is one of the most destructive pests of cruciferous vegetables in the Mekong delta of Vietnam. In order to application of sex pheromones as tool for a sustainable management program, the sex pheromone components of P. Xylostella, (Z)-11-hexadecenal (Z11-16:Ald), (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate (Z11-16:OAc) and (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol (Z11-16:OH), were synthesized and evaluated their attraction in field. The synthetic route using Wittig reaction as key reaction successfully synthesized Z11-16:OH and its corresponding Z11-16:Ald and Z11-16:OAc compounds. After protecting the hydroxyl group of 11-bromo-1-undecanol by methoxymethoxy (MOM) ether, the protected compound was heated with triphenylphosphine at 100oC 24 hrs. to form a phosphonium salt which was converted to MOM ether of (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol compound by coupling with pentanal under the catalyst of sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide solution in THF (Wittig reaction). Stirring of the MOM ether compound in 0.5N HCl solution in methanol 24 hrs. to remove hydroxyl protection obtained Z11-16:OH compound (isomeric purity was >96% as checked by GC-MS analysis). Yield of the synthetic route (from 11-bromo-1-undecanol to Z11-16:OH) was 42.9%. Following, PCC oxidation and acetylation of Z11-16:OH gave Z11-16:Ald and Z11-16:OAc, respectively. In field examinations, traps baited with synthetic lures prepared from different mixtures of Z11-16:Ald, Z11-16:OAc and Z11-16:OH caught significantly higher number of P. xylostella males than that of control affirming the attractiveness of synthetic pheromones. However, only the attraction of three components lures were as strong as that of a virgin female. Otherwise, only traps baited with two components lures prepared from Z11-16:Ald and Z11-16:OAc caught more P. xylostella males than those of traps baited with single component lures. These indicated that Z11-16:Ald and Z11-16:OAc were actively obligated components while Z11-16:OH was a syergistic component for the attraction of P. xylostella in the Mekong delta of Vietnam.

Differential response to sex pheromone of the shoot and fruit borer Conogethes punctiferalis reared on castor and cardamom

Conogethes punctiferalis (Crambidae: Lepidoptera) is an important pest of castor, Ricinus communis. The Conogethes species population infesting cardamom, Elettaria cardamomum in India was earlier thought to be C. punctiferalis. This is because moths of both populations appear similar in morphology, particularly wing patterns and colour. The moths too showed a differential response to the sex pheromone components viz. (E)-10-hexadecenal (E10–16: Ald), (Z)-10-hexadecenal (Z10–16: Ald) and hexadecenal (16: Ald) when exposed in castor and cardamom fields. This elicited a doubt that the pheromone composition of castor and cardamom populations might be different. Therefore investigations using Electroantennogram (EAG) and wind tunnel bioassays of populations on castor and cardamom were conducted. Conogethes reared on castor (CBR) had greater EAG response than the one reared on cardamom (CBE) to E10–16: Ald+ Z10–16: Ald mixed in 1: 1 (0.96±0.025 mV). However, CBE elicited highest response to E10–16: Ald+ Z10–16: Ald at 100: 8 (1.10±0.25 mV). In comparative EAG studies both populations gave higher responses to respective female abdominal gland extracts. Wind tunnel bioassay of synthetic pheromone blend E10-6: Ald+ Z10–16: Ald+ 16: Ald (100: 8: 16) showed source contact when tested against males of CBR, contradictory to CBE. The experimental results revealed that the major pheromone component of both the populations was E10–16: Ald but differed in minor components and their proportions. Supportive data on other aspects of the two populations suggested that these are different and could be different species.

Field Testing of Indigenously Synthesized Sex Pheromone for the Management of <i>Phyllocnistis citrella</i> Stainton under Central Indian Conditions

The objective of this study was to determine the optimum height and dose of the indigenously synthesized sex pheromone of citrus leaf miner, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton for the management of citrus groves under central Indian conditions. The influence of pheromone dose (5 and 8 mg) and trap height (canopy and mid-canopy height) on the capture of P. citrella males was evaluated. The dose of 5 mg of synthetic sex pheromone placed at mid-canopy (1.55 m) height attracted the highest number of P. citrella males (667.15 ± 9.84 adults/trap/week) in <5 year-old Citrus aurantifolia (Christm) Swingle (acid lime) groves of ICAR-CCRI, Nagpur experimental farm. Further evaluation of the pheromone baited traps @ 10, 15 and 20 mg/lure in <5-year-old orchards of acid lime recorded significant maximum trap catch in orchards with 20 mg lure (4 traps/0.3 ha) with mean trap catch/month from 4, 3 and 2 traps/0.3 ha of 1659.76 ± 36.67, 950.19 ± 17.91 and 668.44 ± 8.78 adults in 2014–15 and 1400.17 ± 36.67, 873.64 ± 17.91, 446.91 ± 8.78 adults in 2015–16 respectively.

Synthetic Pheromone Lure and Apical Clipping Affects Productivity and Profitability of Eggplant and Cucumber

ABSTRACTIncreased use of purchased pesticides limits smallholder farmer profitability and may cause harmful effects to human health and the environment. Alternative production practices may be able to alleviate pest problems and improve yield for smallholder growers. On-farm trials were conducted at Baliakandi, Rajbari (inland region), and Dashmina, Patuakhali, and Charfession, Bhola (coastal region), in Bangladesh to evaluate yield and yield components of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) and Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and income of farmers using alternative production practices. Eggplant was grown with and without a pheromone lure at Baliakandi, Rajbari; cucumber was grown with and without a pheromone lure at Dashmina, Patuakhali; and with and without apical clipping at Charfession, Bhola. At Baliakandi, eggplant yielded 15.8 t∙ha−1 with a pheromone lure compared with 13.7 t∙ha−1 without a pheromone lure, a 15.3% yield improvement. At Charfession, the highest cucumber yield of 20.8 t∙ha−1 was obtained with apical clipping compared with 17.9 t∙ha−1 without apical clipping, a 16.2% yield improvement. The highest gross return and gross margin were in fields with alternative production practices at all locations. The difference of gross margin between cucumber grown with and without a pheromone lure was US$668∙ha−1 at Dashmina. Use of insect lures and/or apical clipping can improve yield.

Hail nets enhance disruption of sexual communication by synthetic pheromone in codling moth

Hail nets enhance disruption of sexual communication by synthetic pheromone in codling moth

Pheromone-inducible expression vectors for fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is an attractive host for heterologous gene expression. However, expression systems for industrially viable large-scale fermentations are scarce. Several inducible expression vectors for S. pombe have been reported, with the strong thiamine-repressible nmt1+ promoter or derivatives thereof most commonly employed. Previously, the promoter regions of the genes sxa2+ and rep1+ were utilized to couple pheromone signaling to the expression of reporter genes for quantitative assessment of the cellular response to mating pheromones. Here, we exploit these promoters to serve as highly effective, plasmid-based inducible expression systems for S. pombe. Simply by adding synthetic P-factor pheromone, both promoters conferred 50–60% higher peak expression levels than the nmt1+ promoter. Full induction was significantly faster than observed for nmt1+-based expression platforms. Furthermore, the sxa2+ promoter showed very low basal activity and an overall 584-fold induction by synthetic P-factor pheromone. The dose-response curves of both promoters were assessed, providing the opportunity for facile tuning of the expression level by modulating P-factor concentration. Since the expression plasmids relying on the sxa2+ and rep1+ promoters require neither medium exchange nor glucose/thiamine starvation, they proved to be very convenient in handling. Hence, these expression vectors will improve the palette of valuable genetic tools for S. pombe, applicable to both basic research and biotechnology.

Evaluation of Semiochemical-Baited Traps for Monitoring the Pea Leaf Weevil, Sitona lineatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Field Pea Crops.

The pea leaf weevil (PLW), Sitona lineatus L., is a pest of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) and faba bean (Vicia faba L.) that recently invaded the Canadian Prairie Provinces. Although most damage is done by larvae that feed on root nodules, adults are easier to monitor than larvae. Both male and female weevils respond to a male-produced aggregation pheromone and to volatiles released by host plants. The current study tests the attractiveness of synthetic aggregation pheromone, 4-methyl-3,5-heptanedione, and host plant volatiles linalool, (Z)-3-hexenol, and (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate to PLWs in spring when weevils are reproductively active and in fall when weevils seek overwintering sites. Different combinations of semiochemical lures at various doses, released from a variety of devices were tested in pitfall traps. Semiochemical-baited traps captured both male and female weevils in both seasons but the sex ratio varied with season. Weevils did not respond in a dose-dependent manner to pheromone, as all pheromone lures were equally attractive. Pheromone release rate was determined by the release device and not the pheromone dose in the lure. The addition of plant volatiles sometimes increased weevil captures but plant volatiles alone were not attractive to PLW adults. An additional study tested the effect of trap type on weevil capture. Of the 12 different trap types tested, pheromone-baited pitfall traps were most successful in attracting and retaining weevils. Bycatch of other Sitona species was limited to a few specimens of the sweet clover weevil, Sitona cylindricollis Fahraeus.

Relative captures of grape root borer, Vitacea polistiformis (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) in pheromone traps within vineyards and adjacent woodlands

The grape root borer (GRB), Vitacea polistiformis (Harris), is a significant pest of grapes (Vitis spp.) throughout parts of the eastern United States. Early detection and implementation of management tactics can prevent economic losses and vine death. The establishment of an effective monitoring program requires the deployment of pheromone baited traps in vineyards and native wild grapes. An understanding of the spatial distribution of GRB infestations is critical for the development of sampling plans and for implementing management decisions. Wing traps baited with synthetic GRB sex pheromones (99:1 blend of (E,Z)-2,13-ODDA and Z,Z-3,13-ODDA) were deployed in commercial vineyards and surrounding woodlands in wild grapes to monitor GRB abundance and distribution. In addition, pheromone-baited wing traps were placed at low, medium, and high positions (0.5 m–2 m above the ground) on the grapevine trellis in commercial vineyards to evaluate the effect of trap height on the number of GRB captured. Traps placed in the cultivated vineyard had consistently higher counts of GRB compared with traps along the vineyard edge and in the wild grapes in the woodland. The pheromone-baited traps placed on the highest trellis wire caught more GRB adults than traps placed at the lowest position on the bottom trellis wire. Therefore, we recommend to place traps at approximately 2 m in the upper grapevine canopy early in the season before flight of GRB moth begins in order to aid in the timing and implementation of management tactics.