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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Crop Bioprotection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #118157
Title: PHEROMONE-TRAPPING OF SYNANTHEDON TIPULIFORMIS (LEPIDOPTERA: SESIIDAE) IN WASHINGTON RED CURRANTS

Author
item JAMES, DAVID - WA STATE UNIV,PROSSER,WA
item Cosse, Allard
item WRIGHT, LARRY - WA STATE UNIV,PROSSER,WA
item PEREZ, JOE - WA STATE UNIV,PROSSER,WA

Submitted to: Environmental Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/28/2001
Publication Date: 6/1/2001
Citation: JAMES, D.G., COSSE, A.A., WRIGHT, L., PEREZ, J. PHEROMONE-TRAPPING OF SYNANTHEDON TIPULIFORMIS (LEPIDOPTERA: SESIIDAE) IN WASHINGTON RED CURRANTS. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY. 2001. v. 30(4). p. 663-666.

Interpretive Summary: The currant borer moth, Synanthedon tipuliformis, is a significant pest of red currants in Washington. One to four applications of a broad-spectrum insecticide are applied during the adult flight period. However, control is often poor due to the short-term effect of the spray and imprecise knowledge on moth emergence and abundance. The sexes of this moth communicate with each other through the release of a female-specific blend of natural compounds (sex pheromone). This chemical communication facilitates mating. The present study laid the groundwork for the development of a novel insect control strategy called mating disruption: an improved, non-insecticidal way of managing this pest in Washington red currants. Results of the study yielded new key information about the sex pheromone chemistry and the bioactivity of a synthetic version of the pheromone applied in the field. This knowledge is expected to facilitate large-scale use of mating disruption as an environmentally friendly method to control the currant borer moth.

Technical Abstract: Collections of volatiles, ovipositor extracts and electoantennography showed the sex pheromone of female currant borer moths, Synanthedon tipuliformis Cl., from Washington to be a two component (100:3) blend of (E,Z)-2,13-octadecadienyl acetate (E,Z-2,13-18OAc) and (E,Z)-3,13-octadecadienyl acetate (E,Z-3,13-18: OAc. Pheromone-baited sticky traps captured male S. tipuliformis at one abandoned and two commercial red currant sites in south central Washington from May 19 to August 16, 2000. Peak catches occurred during late May and June with up to 200-300 moths per trap/week. Lowest numbers (overall mean: 4.8 plus/minus 0.9 moths/trap/visit) were recorded at the single insecticide-treated site and largest numbers (39.6 plus/minus 5.5 moths/trap/visit) ocurred at the other, untreated, commercial site.