Field trapping and the flight capacity of Eucosma giganteana (Riley) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in response to behaviorally active congeneric semiochemicals in novel Silphium agroecosystems

Authors: Ruiz, Kaitlyn; BRUCE, ALEXANDER - University Of Tennessee; CHEREMOND, EDY - The Land Institute; STRATTON, CHASE - The Land Institute; MURRELL, EBONY - The Land Institute; Gillette, Samantha; Morrison, William - Rob

Submitted to: Insects
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/28/2022
Publication Date: 4/1/2022
Citation: Ruiz, K.P., Bruce, A., Cheremond, E., Stratton, C., Murrell, E., Gillette, S.A., Morrison Iii, W.R. 2022. Field trapping and the flight capacity of Eucosma giganteana (Riley) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in response to behaviorally active congeneric semiochemicals in novel Silphium agroecosystems. Insects. 13(4):350. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13040350.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13040350

Interpretive Summary: Silphium is a novel perennial crop being developed to sustainably meet oilseed and biofuel needs in the midwestern US. One of the primary pests in this system is the Giant Eucosma Moth. While little is known about the chemical ecology or flight behavior of the Giant Eucosma Moth, many semiochemicals have been identified from other closely related species. We found that there was significant attraction to (E)-8-dodecenyl acetate in two years in the field when paired with clear sticky traps by Giant Eucosma Moth, and to a lesser extent by (Z)-9-dodecenyl acetate. On computer-automated flight mills, we found that Giant Eucosma Moth flew an average of 23 km in a 24 h period, while the presence of attractive stimuli had arresting properties, decreasing flight distance by 78–80% in each flight bout. The longest flight distances were registered in the morning period (4:00-12:00), which were 1.8-fold greater than flight distances and durations at night (20:00-4:00). Especially (E)-8-dodecenyl acetate may be useful in behaviorally-based monitoring and management strategies for the Giant Eucosma Moth. Overall, our research greatly expands the knowledge on the chemical ecology and flight behavior of adult Giant Eucosma Moth.

Technical Abstract: Silphium is a novel perennial crop being developed for oilseed and biofuel needs in the midwestern US. One of the primary pests in this system is Eucosma giganteana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). While little is known about the chemical ecology or flight behavior of E. giganteana, many semiochemicals have been identified from other closely related Eucosma species. Some of these compounds include: (Z)- and (E)-8-dodecenyl acetate, (E)-9-dodecenyl acetate, (Z)-8-dodecenol, (E, E)-8,10-dodecadienyl acetate, and (Z, E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate. The goals of this study were to evaluate whether any of these previously identified compounds could improve capture of E. giganteana when combined with clear sticky cards in the field, and how the flight capacity of E. giganteana was affected by the most attractive volatiles using a computer-automated flight mill assay. We found that there was significant attraction to (E)-8-dodecenyl acetate in two years in the field, and to a lesser extent to (Z)-9-dodecenyl acetate. On flight mills, we found that E. giganteana flew an average of 23 km in a 24 h period, while the presence of attractive stimuli had arresting properties, decreasing flight distance by 78–80%. The longest flight distances were registered in the morning period (4:00-12:00), which were 1.8-fold greater than flight distances and durations at night (20:00-4:00). Especially (E)-8-dodecenyl acetate may be useful in behaviorally-based monitoring and management strategies for E. giganteana. Overall, our research greatly expands the knowledge on the chemical ecology of adult E. giganteana.