An improved female-targeted semiochemical lure for the European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn.

Abstract

The addition of synthetic 4-methoxy-2-phenethyl alcohol to the known attractant phenylacetaldehyde synergized attraction of the European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis, the blend invariably catching 3 to 5 times more than phenylacetaldehyde on its own. Highest catches were recorded by the 1:1 blend. Both females and males were attracted, supposedly in the natural sex ratio of the local population. This improved bisex O. nubilalis attractant could be more efficient and more suitable for detection and monitoring purposes than previously know lures, making possible to draw more reliable plant protection decisions.

European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn., Lepidoptera: Crambidae): comparing the performance of a new bisexual lure with that of synthetic sex pheromone in five countries

“…Vaportape® strips (Hercon Environmental Inc., Emigsville, PA, USA) were placed in each trap bucket to kill captured moths. Bisexual lures contained phenylacetaldehyde (100 mg) plus 4‐methoxyphenethyl alcohol (100 mg) (Sigma‐Aldrich Kft, Budapest, Hungary; chemical purity for both compounds was >95% as stated by the supplier) formulated in polyethylene bag dispensers . For making these baits, 400 mg of each compound was loaded onto a 1 cm piece of dental roll (Celluron, Paul Hartmann AG, Heidenheim, Germany) which was put into a polyethylene bag (1.0 × 1.5 cm) made of 0.02 mm linear polyethylene foil.…”

“…Bisexual lures contained phenylacetaldehyde (100 mg) plus 4-methoxyphenethyl alcohol (100 mg) (Sigma-Aldrich Kft, Budapest, Hungary; chemical purity for both compounds was >95% as stated by the supplier) formulated in polyethylene bag dispensers. 8 For making these baits, 400 mg of each compound was loaded onto a 1 cm piece of dental roll (Celluron, Paul Hartmann AG, Heidenheim, Germany) which was put into a polyethylene bag (1.0 × 1.5 cm) made of 0.02 mm linear polyethylene foil. The bait dispensers were heat sealed and attached to 8 × 1 cm plastic strips for easy handling when assembling and baiting traps.…”

“…5−7 Recently, when testing binary combinations of phenylacetaldehyde with 4-methoxyphenethyl alcohol, a four-to five-fold increase in moth catches in the field was reported. 8 This binary synthetic bisexual lure appeared to be efficient enough for practical applications in trapping for detection and/or monitoring of the pest.…”

“…Phenylacetaldehyde has been identified as an odorant of several moth‐visited flowers and an attractant for a number of species of Lepidoptera, including the European corn borer ( O. nubilalis ) . Recently, when testing binary combinations of phenylacetaldehyde with 4‐methoxyphenethyl alcohol, a four‐ to five‐fold increase in moth catches in the field was reported . This binary synthetic bisexual lure appeared to be efficient enough for practical applications in trapping for detection and/or monitoring of the pest.…”

Evaluation of the effectiveness of the European corn borer monitoring using bisexual lure based on tests results in the Kuban and the Central Black Earth Zone of Russia

“…Исследования, выполненные в Институте защиты растений (Будапешт, Венгрия), выявили высокую аттрактивность двух летучих семиохемиков кукурузыфенилацетальдегида и 4-метокси-2-фенэтилового спирта для имаго вредителя [6], которая была подтверждена полевыми испытаниями, проведенными в ряде европейских стран [7].…”