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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #301057
Title: Binary floral lure attractive to velvetbean caterpillar adults (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Author
item Meagher, Robert - Rob
item Landolt, Peter

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/11/2009
Publication Date: 3/1/2010
Citation: Meagher Jr, R.L., Landolt, P.J. 2010. Binary floral lure attractive to velvetbean caterpillar adults (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Florida Entomologist. 93(1):73-79.

Interpretive Summary: Evaluation of combinations of flower odor compounds in northern Florida by scientists from the USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Center for Medical, Veterinary and Agricultural Entomology, Gainesville, Florida, revealed that linalool was synergistic in attractiveness with phenylacetaldehyde (PAA) to the migratory moth velvetbean caterpillar (Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner). 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.

Technical 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 Hübner). 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.