Synthetic Sex Attractant Research Articles

Bisexual lures and their comparison with synthetic sex attractants for trapping Orthosia species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

AbstractTwo bisexual lures have been developed using iso‐amyl alcohol plus acetic acid combined with red wine extract (semisynthetic bisexual lure, SBL), or synthetic floral compounds (FLO) for trapping of noctuid moths with early spring activity of adults. Orthosia species were attracted by the tested semi‐synthetic and synthetic lures indicating the possible role of the fermenting liquids and floral compounds in the feeding of these species. Bisexual lures attracted generally a lower number of individuals than the synthetic sex attractants of the given species, except for O. cerasi where FLO lures were more attractive than the sex attractant. Bisexual lures caught both sexes and females composed a sizable percentage of the catch. Since traps baited with different types of bisexual lures provided similar data on sex ratios, thus these presumably reflected the actual sex ratio of the given population. The use of these bisexual lures, especially of FLO in case of Orthosia spp., can be useful in surveys in which the capture of females and data on sex ratios are indispensable, for example in population dynamic and polyandry surveys. In contrast, in case of low population densities, the use of sex attractant lures seem to be still more efficient.

Field trials of synthetic sex attractants of Illiberis pruni in China

AbstractThe objective of this work was to determine the best conditions for the use of synthetic sex attractants to monitor Illiberis pruni Dyar (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae, Procridinae) in the Helan Mountain National Nature Reserve, Ningxia, China. Traps with binary blends of 2‐butyl (7Z)‐dodecanoate (300 µg) and 2‐butyl (9Z)‐tetradecanoate (300 µg) at a ratio of 1:1 caught the most moths. Catches were significantly different across 5–45 m inter‐trap distances; the optimal trapping radius was 25 m. Trap height did not affect catches. The slope aspect, temperature, and humidity significantly influenced catches. More moths were caught as temperatures increased and relative humidity decreased. Traps placed on shady slopes caught significantly more moths than did traps placed on sunny slopes. This study elucidates how various factors influence the effectiveness of traps. The implications of these findings could facilitate safer and more environmentally friendly in situ management of I. pruni.

Theresimima ampellophaga (Bayle-Barelle, 1808) rediscovered in the Republic of North Macedonia by using sex attractant traps (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae)

Theresimima ampellophaga (Bayle-Barelle, 1808) was known from only three sites in North Macedonia and has never been considered as a pest of grapevine in this territory. The last time it was recorded in North Macedonia about 80 years ago. Traps baited with synthetic sex attractant EFETOV-2 (racemic mixture of (2R)-butyl 2-dodecenoate and (2S)-butyl 2-dodecenoate) were set at two localities near Ohrid Lake at Trebenishta village and between Ljubanishta village and Sveti Naum Monastery in 2016, in Vardar river valley near Demir Kapija in 2017 and near Dojran Lake in 2018. In North Macedonia sex attractants were used for the detection of this species for the first time. We recorded Th. ampellophaga in traps at all four monitored localities.

An application of the synthetic sex attractants from the series “EFETOV-2” for studying Procridinae in Italy (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae)

The enantiomers of 2-butyl 2-dodecenoate synthesised in the Crimean Federal University are known as the sex attractants for Procridinae species (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae). These compounds, alone and in combination, were applied for studying the Zygaenidae fauna in Italy for four years from 2015 to 2018. We evaluated the effectiveness of the three following variants: EFETOV-2 (the racemic mixture of (2R)-butyl 2-dodecenoate and (2S)-butyl 2-dodecenoate), EFETOV-S-2 (the R-enantiomer alone) and EFETOV-S-S-2 (the S-enantiomer alone). The males of three genera of Procridinae were attracted to the lures from the series “EFETOV-2”: Rhagades Wallengren, 1863 (one species), Adscita Retzius, 1783 (six species), and Jordanita Verity, 1946 (four species). The sex attractants for species Adscita (Adscita) italica (Alberti, 1937), A. (A.) alpina (Alberti, 1937), A. (A.) dujardini Efetov & Tarmann, 2014, and one endemic species Jordanita (Jordanita) tenuicornis (Zeller, 1847) were found for the first time. Moreover, a hybridisation zone between A. (A.) italica and A. (A.) alpina was discovered by the application of the sex attractants. Rhagades (Rhagades) pruni ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) was recorded for the first time for more than 100 years in Piemonte and for the first time ever in the Ligurian Alps.

Comparing Performance of Synthetic Sex Attractants and a Semisynthetic Bisexual Lure in Orthosia and Conistra Species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The performance of a semisynthetic bisexual lure (SBL, containing isoamyl alcohol, acetic acid and red wine) previously found attractive for a number of noctuids was compared with that of the respective synthetic sex attractants of Orthosia cerasi (=stabilis), O. cruda, O. gothica, O. incerta, Anorthoa munda and Conistra vaccini. The respective sex attractants performed significantly better in the Orthosia spp. than the SBL lure, which, although regularly catching low numbers of both females and males, did not differ significantly from zero catch in unbaited control traps. On the other hand, the SBL lure performed as well as the sex attractant in C. vaccini. Sizeable catches of C. rubiginea, C. rubiginosa and C. erythrocephala were also recorded in traps with the SBL lure. The SBL lure can prove to be a useful tool in ecological and faunistical studies of Conistra and related hibernating Xylenini species.

Results of long-term use of pheromone traps to monitor harmful tortricid moths in Leningrad Region of Russia

Monitoring the population dynamics of harmful moths using synthetic sex attractants in Leningrad Region was carried out in the fruit experimental orchard of St. Petersburg Agrarian University (Pushkin) and small private orchards of Pushkin district. As a result of the analysis of many years temperature characteristics of vegetation seasons in the Leningrad Region and calculation of the sums of effective temperatures, it has been found that the codling moth had high numbers and developed in two full generations in 1999, 2002, 2006, 2013 and 2018. The complex of phytophagous leaf rollers as a whole can cause sometimes significant harm to both industrial orchards and homestead lands, because the economic threshold of harmfulness by yield losses is often achieved, when plants are damaged by more than one pest species, each of which causing only weak harm. As a general conclusion, the complex of orchard leaf rollers is a dynamic system. Their development and numbers ratio is influenced by weather conditions of a year and climate changes in general.

Eco-friendly pheromone dispensers-a green route to manage the European grapevine moth?

The development of environmentally sustainable control strategies to fight insect pests is a key challenge nowadays. Pheromone-mediated mating disruption (MD) is based on the release of synthetic sex attractants into a crop, interfering with mate finding of a given pest species. However, a limited number of research items have been published on the optimization of MD strategies against the European grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana, as well as on the use of biodegradable dispensers to reduce waste production in vineyards, despite the high economic importance of this pest. Therefore, the present study evaluated the efficacy of the MD products Isonet® L TT and the biodegradable Isonet® L TT BIO, applied at various densities, in reducing L. botrana damage on grapevine in comparison to an untreated control and the reference MD product Isonet® L. Experiments were conducted in three different areas of grapevine cultivation, located in Central and Northern Italy, over three different years. Our MD approach allowed a reliable control of the three generations of L. botrana during the whole grape growing season, leading to a significant reduction in the infested flower clusters andbunches, as well as in the number of nests per flower cluster and bunch, if compared to the untreated control. The performances of Isonet® L TT BIO, Isonet® LTT, and Isonet® L did not differ in terms of infested flower clusters/bunches, as well as nests per flower cluster/bunch. This was confirmed in all experimental sites over 3years of field experiments. Overall, the present research provides useful information for the optimization of MD programs against L. botrana, highlighting the interesting potential of biodegradable pheromone dispensers that can be easily applied at low densities in vineyards, reducing the use of chemical pesticides to control moth pests.

Female‐targeted attractant containing pear ester for Synanthedon myopaeformis

AbstractWhen testing pear ester (ethyl‐2,4‐decadienoate) + acetic acid (PEAA) lures to catch codling moths, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), in Hungary, significant catches of the apple clearwing moth, Synanthedon myopaeformis (Borkhausen) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), were also recorded. This sesiid is one of the most important pests of apple in Europe. Pear ester plus acetic acid lures were attractive to S. myopaeformis no matter whether the two compounds were provided in separate dispensers or mixed together in a single dispenser, and a large percentage (40–80%) of the clearwing moths caught were females. In all cases, traps baited with binary combinations of PEAA caught far more than traps baited with either of the compounds presented alone. Traps with PEAA lures in some tests caught (females and males together) up to ca. 20% of the catch in traps baited with the synthetic apple clearwing moth sex attractant (all males). Consequently, the PEAA lure shows potential for future practical applications as a female‐targeted lure. To our knowledge, this is the first report of attractiveness of a lure containing pear ester for non‐tortricid Lepidoptera. Our finding suggests that the compound may be exploited as a host location stimulus by a wider array of insects than was indicated previously.

Use of sex pheromones in faunistic research on Synanthedon scoliaeformis (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae) in Poland

Studies on the distribution of Synanthedon scoliaeformis were carried out in western, south-western and south-eastern Poland by means of synthetic sex attractants. Funnel traps baited mainly with one component E2,Z13-18:Ac, were used. This study confirms that the use of sex attractant is highly efficient in faunistic studies and pheromone trapping may offer a user friendly and reliable method for monitoring this rare clearwing moth species which otherwise are hard to detect. New records and all the literature data on S. scoliaeformis, caught in Poland withthe help of sex pheromone are presented.

MONITORING OF CHESTNUT MOTHS BY INTRA- AND INTERSPECIFIC SEMIOCHEMICALS

The effectiveness of synthetic sex attractants and a compound of plant origin, ethyl-(E,Z)-2,4-decadienoate, to monitor the flight activity of the chestnut moths Pammene fasciana, Cydia fagiglandana and Cydia splendana in southern Italy was evaluated. Field trapping tests were carried out from the end of June to the end of September during 2006 and 2007 in two chestnut orchards. In both years, pagoda traps were baited with rubber septum dispensers loaded with 1 mg of synthetic sex attractants of one of the three species or with 40 mg of ethyl-(E,Z)-2,4-decadienoate. In 2007, Pherocon IIB traps baited with the sex attractant blend of P. fasciana or ethyl-(E,Z)-2,4-decadienoate were also used. In both years, pheromone traps captured a high number of P. fasciana males, a fair number of C. fagiglandana males and no male of C. splendana. The pattern of weekly catches by pheromone traps showed a peak of flight activity between the second and third decade of July and a smaller one at the end of August for P. fasciana and between the second and third decade of August for C. fagiglandana, without substantial variations among trapping sites. Traps baited with ethyl-(E,Z)-2,4-decadienoate allowed for capturing conspicuous numbers of P. fasciana males and females and the pattern of flight activity as monitored by this compound was similar to that by the sex pheromone blend. Failure to capture C. splendana males could be due to a lack of attractiveness of the sex attractant blend used but also to a low presence of this pest, as suggested by visual fruit samplings carried out at the harvest. Captures of female chestnut moths by ethyl-(E,Z)-2,4-decadienoate are of practical interest since they could be used for a more rational application of control means.

Mating disruption controls the cherry tree borer, Synanthedon hector (Butler) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), in a steep orchard of cherry trees

Mating disruption of the cherry tree borer, Synanthedon hector (Butler), with synthetic sex attractant was conducted for 6 years to test the efficiency of the method to control the borer population on the slopes in the Cherry Tree Forest of Tama Forest Science Garden, Hachioji, Tokyo. No male adult moth has been captured in traps baited with the synthetic attractant since the commencement of the control. The incidence of attack decreased to a low level in the third year and has remained low thereafter, indicating the effectiveness of mating disruption in controlling the borer population.

A new species of Phyllonorycter (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) from Kenya discovered by using the sex attractant Z8-tetradecen-1-yl acetate

Phyllonorycter obandai, new species, was discovered in Kenya using traps baited with the synthetic sex attractant Z8-tetradecen-1-yl acetate. This is the first species of Phyllonorycter recorded from Kenya. External morphological features of adult males, along with their genitalia are described and illustrated from specimens attracted to the traps. A distribution map for P. obandai is also presented.

Design and placement of synthetic sex attractant traps for monitoring apple leaf roller,Archips pomivoraMeyrick (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in North Indian orchards*

Abstract Monitoring procedures with different trap designs and their proper location within the tree canopy were standardized for Archips pomivora Meyrick, a predominant tortricid infesting apple in Himachal Pradesh. Two synthetic pheromonal lures OBLR and FTLR were used over three seasons (1982–1984). Trap design had no significant influence on moth catch. Trap placement in the tree canopy was an important factor influencing the magnitude of moth catch. Traps positioned in the upper half of the canopy and near the periphery attracted significantly more moths. This pattern remained consistent in both smaller (<4.0m) and taller (>7.0m) trees. Almost all the moths were captured within the canopy, and traps placed outside attracted very few moths.

Synthesis and field testing of enantiomers of 6Z,9Z-cis-3,4-epoxydienes as sex attractants for geometrid moths

Stereoselective syntheses of chiral C17 to C21 6Z,9Z-cis-3,4-epoxydienes were developed. Field tests of the enantiomerically enriched epoxides as components of synthetic sex attractant lures were carried out, and those with C17 and C19 chain lengths, particularly, were attractive to male moths of several species. Moths were usually specifically attracted by one of a pair of enantiomers, and the opposite enantiomer could actually be a behavioral antagonist. Males belonging to nine species of Geometridae were captured.Probole amicaria (Herrich-Schäffer) males were taken in traps baited with the mixture (6Z,9Z,3S,4R)-epoxy-nonadecadiene (6Z,9Z,3S,4R-epoxy-19∶H) + 3Z,9Z,6R,7S-epoxy-19∶H + 3Z,6Z,9Z-19∶H(9∶1∶8). Other species responding to the C19 compounds included (attractant components follow in parentheses);Sicya macularia (Harris) (6Z,9Z,3S,4R-epoxy-19∶H + 3Z,6Z,9Z-19∶H),Anavitrinella pampinaria (Guenée) (6Z,9Z-cis-3,4-epoxy-19∶H + 3Z,9Z,6S,7R-epoxy-19∶H), andLycia ursaria (Walker) (6Z,9Z-3S, 4R-epoxy-19∶H + 3Z,6Z,9Z-19∶H). Males of the following species were captured byC 17 epoxides:Itame occiduaria (Packard) (6Z,9Z,3R,4S-epoxy-17∶H + 3Z,6Z,9Z-17∶H),Itame brunneata (Thunberg) (6Z,9Z,3S,4R-epoxy-17∶H),Epelis truncataria (Walker) (both enantiomers of 6Z,9Z-cis-3,4-epoxy-17∶H),Semiothisa ulsterata (Pearsall) (3Z,9Z-6S,7R-epoxy-17∶H), andS. signaria dispuncta (Walker) (3Z,9Z-cis-6,7-epoxy-17∶H + 3Z,6Z,9Z-17∶H). The interactions among enantiomers and regioisomers are discussed as a mechanism by which cross attraction between sympatric species is limited.

Captures of Popillia lewisi (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and Other Scarabs on Okinawa with Japanese Beetle Lures

Adults of Popillia lewisi Arrow were captured with Japanese beetle (Popillia japomca Newman) lures on Okinawa during 1985-1986. The floral lure (phenethyl propionate/eugenol/geraniol, 3:7:3) was responsible for attracting the insects. The Japanese beetle synthetic sex attractant (Japonilure) was not attractive and did not synergize the floral lure. Two other scarab beetles, Protaetia ishigakia okinawana Kurosawa and particularly Oxycetonioa jecunda Falderman, were also attracted to the floral lure.

Surveillance d'insectes ravageurs des cultures par piégeage sexuel des mâles dans les départements de la Guadeloupe et de la Guyane

Three noctuid moths are particularly harmful to cultivated Graminaceae in French West Indies and Guyana : Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith (the grass worm), Heliothis zea Boddie (the cotton boll worm) and Mocis latipes Guénée. All the three species have multicomponent sex phermones where minority components play an important role for male attraction. Synthetic sex attractants have been developed recently for these insects and have been used for population monitoring. In French Guyana, sexual trapping of M. latipes and S. frugiperda males, in artificial grass lands, has been extensively used to predict caterpillar swarms and to adjust insecticide applications. In the case of S. frugiperda, for example, there are good relationships between the number of males caught in a sexual trap and the number of caterpillars that can be found in the grassland one week later. It has also been found, for the same species, that there are 3 flights for the adults during the year, separated by 4–5 week periods. A similar correlation can be predicted for M. latipes, but owing to the very low populations present during the experiments it was difficult to show conclusively. Advertisements concerning swarming risks for S. frugiperda are now broadcasted by radio and T.V. for the growers of the coastal range of Guyana. In the French West Indies (Guadeloupe) sexual trapping of both S. frugiperda and H. zea has been used to study the spatial repartition of the insects on all the island and to discover relationships between the population levels and nature of the crops in a given area. It has been found that S. frugiperda is present in all locations and during all the year with a maximum during the rainy season. On the other hand, H. zea is present only when a favourable host plant grows in the same area. The species can disappear for several months if host plants are not present. These experiments, conducted for the first time in these two geographical areas, clearly demonstrate the usefulness of sex attractants for monitoring insect pest populations in tropical countries.

Temporal Reproductive Isolation between Two Species of Plume Moths (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae)

Males of Platyptilia carduidactyla (Riley) and P. williamsii Grinnell respond to the same synthetic sex attractant, (Z)-11-hexadecenal. However, release of pheromone in the two species is temporally separate, with female P. carduidactyla emitting pheromone during the first half of the night and P. williamsii calling during the second half of the night. Wild males seek conspecific females during these times. When the temporal differences between the two species are experimentally eliminated, the result can be cross-attraction and interspecific courtship (between female P. carduidactyla and male P. williamsii ) and even copulations and transfer of spermatophores (between female P. williamsii and male P. carduidactyla ). These interspecific interactions are detrimental, and could have led to selection for the observed temporal reproductive isolation.

Effectiveness of Hollow Fibers as Dispensers of Synthetic Sex Attractant for Male Carpenterworms (Lepidoptera: Cossidae)

Traps baited with Conrel hollow-fiber dispensers charged with ( Z, E )-3,5-tetradecadienyl acetate caught male Prionoxystus robiniae (LepIdoptera: Cossldae). Traps baited with 20-mil fiber dispensers, although they caught equivalent numbers of males as traps baited with cotton wick dispensers, were more effective for longer periods of time. Traps baited with Conrel fibers charged separately with the ZE - and EE - isomers of 3, 5- tetradecadienyl acetate, and released in concert, caught significantly more males than traps baited with fiber dispensers emitting the Z, E - isomer alone. The addition of the antioxidants BHA/BHT to the attractant did not significantly increase trap catches.

Orientation Disruption of Euxoa messoria (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Males with Synthetic Sex Attractant Components: Field and Flight Tunnel Studies

Disruption of orientation of Euxoa messoria male moths to traps baited with a synthetic sex attractant or virgin females was studied under two field designs. In both designs, the atmosphere in the test sites was permeated with (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate (Z11–16:Ac), (Z)-7-hexadecenyl acetate (Z7–16:Ac), and (Z)-9-hexadecenyl acetate (Z9–16:Ac), each compound singly or as a ternary blend. In 81-m2 test plots, effective (>89%) disorientation of males occurred, using the blend or Z11–16:Ac alone; Z7–16:Ac and Z9–16:Ac, tested singly, were ineffective. In the other test sites, where the disruptants were released from rubber septa in close proximity to the monitoring trap, disorientation resulted from both the blend and Z7–16:Ac alone; Z11–16:Ac was ineffective under these conditions. Studies of male behavioral responses to these components in a flight tunnel showed that Z11–16:Ac is a long-range attractant whereas Z7–16:Ac primarily effects close-range flight and landing. No behavioral effect could be attributed to Z9–16:Ac. Results of flight tunnel responses and visual observations of field test sites accounted for the disruption results obtained.

PERIODICITY IN THE RESPONSIVENESS OF MALE SPRUCE BUDWORM (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE) TO SYNTHETIC SEX ATTRACTANT

Past experiments concerned with the elucidation of the daily activity pattern of male spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), have used the response of males to virgin females as the criterion of activity. Males showed a peak response just after sunset and little activity in the early afternoon (Greenbank 1963; Sanders 1971a). Difficulty arises in interpreting such data in terms of male activity patterns. It is obvious that males are active after sunset; however, there is no way of knowing whether the reduced activity in the early afternoon is a result of changing response thresholds by the males or whether it is a result of the females releasing insufficient, if any, pheromone (see Morse et al. 1982). After the identification of the components of the female sex pheromone (Sanders and Weatherston 1976) a synthetic sex attractant was developed and the inherent daily activity pattern of male spruce budworm could be determined.