Apple and peach fruit volatiles and the apple constituent butyl hexanoate attract female oriental fruit moth, Cydia molesta, in the laboratory

Abstract

Volatiles emitted from immature and mature peach and apple fruits were all attractive to mated female oriental fruit moth, Cydia molesta (Busck), in a dual choice arena. Females did not discriminate between odours emitted by these two major host plants. The same natural blends were behaviourally ineffective for virgin females. A major component of apple fruit volatiles, butyl hexanoate, also attracted female C. molesta. Mated females were attracted to two medium dosages, while virgin females responded positively to the lowest of the five dosages tested. The time course of the captures of the moths shows a diurnal activity cycle known from the field. The possible implications of a semiochemical which attracts females are discussed in the context of previous findings that gravid females may immigrate from peaches into apple orchards particularly in the later phase of the season.

Ordinary glomeruli in the antennal lobe of male and female tortricid moth Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) process sex pheromone and host-plant volatiles

“…This demonstrates that pheromone and plant volatile processing is not completely separate in the AL of G. molesta. The high percentage of AL neurons responding to 5VB underlines its importance in guiding host-finding behaviour not only in females (Natale et al, 2004;Piñero and Dorn, 2007), but also in males (N.V., personal observation). Fewer neurons responding to PE might be due to the fact that pears are only a secondary host plant for G. molesta, unlike its related species C. pomonella (Knight et al, 2005).…”

“…Also, attraction towards a blend of five plant volatiles ((Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, (Z)-3-hexenol, (E)-2-hexenal, benzaldehyde and benzonitrile) has been recently reported in G. molesta females (e.g. Natale et al, 2004;Piñero and Dorn, 2007;Piñero et al, 2008). The response of G. molesta to ethyl (E,Z)-2,4-decadienoate (pearester: PE), a volatile emitted by ripe pears (Knight and Light, 2004), has also been observed in some apple orchards (F. M. Molinari, personal communication).…”

Ability of the Oriental Fruit Moth Grapholita molesta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) to Detoxify Juglone, the Main Secondary Metabolite of the Non-host Plant Walnut

“…The European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) successfully added maize to its original host range in spite of the toxic properties of hydroxamic acids from this plant, in particular 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-l,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIMBOA) (Campos et al, 1988;Martel et al, 2003). Likewise, apple was initially reported only as a secondary, relatively unimportant host plant of the oriental fruit moth (Rothschild and Vickers, 1991), but its significance as a host is continuously increasing (Natale et al, 2004;Myers et al, 2006), indicating the potential of this insect to rapidly adapt to new hosts. Our results suggest that in future, G. molesta could include juglandacean plants into its host range, provided other factors are favorable.…”

Volatile compounds from young peach shoots attract males of oriental fruit moth in the field

“…Natale et al (2003) reported that excised peach shoots were attractive to mated OFM females, and identified mixtures of (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, (Z)-3-hexenol and benzaldehyde as OFM female attractants from the excised plants under laboratory conditions. They also reported that the major component of apple fruit volatiles, butyl hexanoate, was also attractive for mated OFM females (Natale et al 2004). We also found that newly planted peach trees are especially attractive to mated OFM females for oviposition.…”