Abstract
Behavior of males ofHydraecia micacea (Esper) responding to virgin females and to synthetic pheromone blends were investigated in a laboratory wind tunnel. The synthetic blend consisted of saturated 14∶Ac (68.9%),Z9–14∶Ac (3.4%),E11–14∶Ac (14.6%), andZ11–14∶Ac (13.1%). Virgin females were significantly better lures than the four-component synthetic blend for most behaviors. By deleting components individually from the four-component blend,Z9–14∶Ac,Z11–14∶Ac, and saturated 14∶Ac were found to be necessary for communication butE11–14∶Ac was found to have no effect on typical pheromone-mediated reproductive behaviors. Close-range studies suggested that chemicals of low volatility, released from moths, were important in eliciting copulation attempts. Field studies reinforced laboratory findings regarding the effectiveness of different lures and indicated thatHeliothis traps were the most effective for monitoring.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Anonymous. 1982. SAS User's Guide: Statistics. SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina.
Bjostad, L.B., Gaston, L.K., Noble, L.L., Moyer, J.H., andShorey, H.H. 1980. Dodecyl acetate, a second pheromone component of the cabbage looper moth,Trichoplusia ni. J. Chem. Ecol. 6:727–734.
Bjostad, L.B., Linn, C.E., Du, J.W., andRoelofs, W.L. 1984. Identification of new sex pheromone components inTrichoplusia ni, predicted from biosynthetic precursors.J. Chem. Ecol. 10:1309–1323.
Carpenter, J.E., andSparks, A.N. 1982. Effects of vision on mating behavior of the male corn earworm.J. Econ. Entomol. 75:248–250.
Deedat, Y.D., andEllis, C.R. 1983. Damage caused by the potato stem borer (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to field corn.J. Econ. Entomol. 76:1055–1060.
Deedat, Y.D., Ellis, C.R., andWest, R.J. 1983. Life history of the potato stem borer (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Ontario.J. Econ. Entomol. 76:1033–1037.
Fagen, R.M., andYoung, D.Y. 1978. Temporal patterns of behaviors: Durations, intervals, and latencies and sequences, pp. 79–114,in P.W. Colgan (ed.). Quantitative Ethology. John Wiley & Sons, Toronto.
Grant, G.G., French, D., Macdonald, L., Slessor, K.N. andKino, G.G.S. 1987. Copulation releaser pheromone in body scales of female whitemarked tussock moth,Orgyia leucostigma (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae): Identification and behavioral role.J. Chem. Ecol. 13:345–356.
Heath, R.R., andSonnet, P.E. 1980. Techniques for in situ coating of Ag+ onto silica gel in HPLC columns for separation of geometrical isomers.J. Liquid Chromatogr. 3:1129–1135.
Hill, A.A., andRoelofs, W.L. 1981. Sex pheromone of the saltmarsh caterpillar moth,Estigmene acrea.J. Chem. Ecol. 7:655–668.
Hill, A.S., Cardé, R.T., Kildo, H., andRoelofs, W.L. 1975. Sex pheromone of the orange tortrix moth,Argyrotaenia citrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).J. Chem. Ecol. 1:215–224.
Hinks, C.F., andByers, J.R. 1976. Biosystematics of the genusEuxoa (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) V. Rearing procedures and life cycles of 36 species.Can. Entomol. 108:1345–1357.
Ono, T. 1981. Factors releasing the copulation attempt in three species of Phycitidae (Lepidoptera: Phycitidae).Appl. Entomol. Zool. 16:24–28.
Plimmer, J.R. 1982. Disruption of mating in gypsy moth, pp. 135–154,in A.F. Kydonieus and M. Beroza (eds.). Insect Suppression with Controlled Release Pheromone Systems, Vol. 1. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida.
Raina, A.K., Klun, J.A., Lopez, J.D., andLeonhardt, B.A. 1986. Female sex pheromone ofHeliothis phloxiphaga (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Chemical identification, male behavioral response in the flight tunnel, and field tests.Environ. Entomol. 15:931–935.
Roelofs, W., Hill, A., andCardé, R. 1975. Sex pheromone components of the redbanded leafroller,Argyrotaenia velutininana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).J. Chem. Ecol. 1:83–89.
Shorey, H.H. 1964. Sex pheromone of noctuid moths. II. Mating behavior ofTrichoplusia ni (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) with special reference to the role of the sex pheromone.Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 57:371–377.
Shorey, H.H., andGaston, L.K. 1970. Sex pheromones of noctuid moths. XX. Short-range visual orientation by pheromone-stimulated males ofTrichoplusia ni.Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 63:829–832.
Siegel, S. 1956. Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences. McGraw-Hill, New York.
Sparks, A.N.M., Raulston, J.R., Lingred, P.D., Carpenter, J.E., Klun, J.A., andMullinix, B.G. 1979. Field response of maleHeliothis virescens to pheromonal stimuli and traps.Bull. Entomol. Soc. Am. 25:268–274.
Steel, R.G.D., andTorrie, J.H. 1980. Principles and Procedures of Statistics, 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill, Toronto.
Stevenson, M.F., andPoole, T.B. 1976. An ethogram of the common marmoset (Calithrix jacchus): General behavioral repertoire.Anim. Behav. 24:428–451.
Struble, D.L. 1983. Pheromone traps for monitoring moth (Lepidoptera) abundances: evaluation of cone-orifice and omni-directional designs.Can. Entomol. 115:59–65.
Teal, P.E.A., andTumlinson, J.H. 1987. The role of alcohols in pheromone biosynthesis by two noctuid moths that use acetate pheromone components.Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 4:261–269.
Teal, P.E.A., Mclaughlin, J.R., andTumlinson, J.H. 1981. Analysis of the reproductive behavior ofHeliothis virescens (F.) under laboratory conditions.Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 74:324–330.
Teal, P.E.A., West, R.J., andLaing, J.E. 1983. Identification of a blend of sex pheromone components of the potato stem borer (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) for monitoring adults.Proc. Entomol. Soc. Ontario 114:15–19.
Teal, P.E.A., Mitchell, E.R., Tumlinson, J.H., Heath, R.R., andSugie, H. 1985. Identification of volatile sex pheromone components released by the southern army worm,Spodoptera eridania (Cramer).J. Chem. Ecol. 11:717–725.
Teal, P.E.A., Tumlinson, J.H., andHeath, R.R. 1986. Chemical and behavioral analyses of volatile sex pheromone components released by callingHeliothis virescens (F.) females (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).J. Chem. Ecol. 12:107–126.
Tetor, D. 1980. Cooperative plant pest report.USDA 5:411.
West, R.J., Teal, P.E.A., Laing, J.E., andGrant, G.M. 1984. Calling behavior of the potato stem borer,Hydraecia micacea Esper (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in the laboratory and the field.Environ. Entomol. 13:1399–1404.
West, R.J., Laing, J.E., andTeal, P.E.A. 1985. Method for rearing the potato stem borer,Hydraecia micacea (Esper) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in the laboratory.J. Econ. Entomol. 78:219–221.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Burns, E.L., Teal, P.E.A. Response of male potato stem borer moths,Hydraecia micacea (Esper) to conspecific females and synthetic pheromone blends in the laboratory and field. J Chem Ecol 15, 1365–1378 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01014836
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01014836