Effects of Exposure to Pheromone and Insecticide Constituents of an Attracticide Formulation on Reproductive Behavior of Oriental Fruit Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Abstract

The effect of exposure to both the pheromone and insecticide constituents of an attracticide formulation on subsequent pheromonal response of male oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), was tested in several wind tunnel bioassays. Male response to the attracticide formulation was significantly reduced in all behavioral categories, including source contact 1 h after sublethal exposure (both by voluntary contact in the wind tunnel and forced application in the laboratory) to the attracticide formulation containing inert ingredients, pheromone, and insecticide. Sublethal exposure to the attracticide formulation in the laboratory (forced application) 24 h before the bioassay resulted in a significantly lower proportion of males subsequently responding to attracticide droplets in the wind tunnel. However, voluntary contact of male moths with the toxic formulation in the wind tunnel had no effect on subsequent response 24 h later. Exposure of males to different constituents of the attracticide formulation demonstrated that both pheromone and insecticide exerted effects on subsequent male pheromonal response. Exposure to the formulation containing the inert ingredients plus the pheromone (no insecticide) significantly reduced male behavioral responses to an attracticide droplet in the wind tunnel 1 h but not 24 h after exposure, compared with males treated with inert ingredients alone. Response to attracticide droplets was further reduced by exposure to the entire attracticide formulation containing inert ingredients, pheromone and insecticide at both 1 and 24 h postexposure. Similarly, males exposed to inert ingredients plus pheromone were less likely to orient to female-produced plumes 1 h but not 24 h after exposure than males treated with inert ingredients alone. Response to female-produced plumes was further reduced at 1 h but not at 24 h after exposure to the entire attracticide formulation. Mating success of males was significantly reduced by exposure to the entire attracticide formulation but not to the formulation without insecticide when placed with females 1 and 24 h postexposure. These findings suggest that sublethal poisoning of males exposed to the attracticide formulation will enhance the effectiveness of this formulation under field conditions.

Attractiveness and toxicity of an attracticide formulation on adult males of ash leaf cone roller, Caloptilia fraxinella

“…Three other tortricids display almost 100% mortality 24 h post-treatment to attracticide formulations containing 6% permethrin (Curkovic & Brunner, 2005). Insecticide-induced mortality after exposure to an attracticide will depend on contact time with the formulation (Evenden et al, 2005) and the susceptibility of the targeted species to the affector agent. Insecticide-induced mortality after exposure to an attracticide will depend on contact time with the formulation (Evenden et al, 2005) and the susceptibility of the targeted species to the affector agent.…”

“…It is possible that aging the formulation under field conditions enhanced the degradation of the formulation due to ultraviolet exposure (Curkovic & Brunner, 2005) and reduced moth mortality during the later assessment periods. However, sublethal exposure to the attracticide may decrease the males' ability to subsequently locate and court mates (Haynes et al, 1986;Krupke et al, 2002;Evenden et al, 2005). However, sublethal exposure to the attracticide may decrease the males' ability to subsequently locate and court mates (Haynes et al, 1986;Krupke et al, 2002;Evenden et al, 2005).…”

“…Upon contact with the attracticide, individuals are removed from the population through the action of a chemical, physical, or pathogenic affector agent (Jones, 1998). Most lepidopteran attracticide formulations consist of a combination of synthetic sex pheromone to lure male moths and pyrethroid insecticides that exact lethal and sublethal effects on attracted moths (Haynes et al, 1986;Charmillot et al, 1996;Lösel et al, 2000;Krupke et al, 2002;Curkovic & Brunner, 2005;Evenden et al, 2005).…”

The effect of exposure to synthetic pheromone lures on male Zygaena filipendulae mating behaviour: implications for monitoring species of conservation interest

“…Pheromones are used to disrupt mating in a number of ways including false plume following (Stelinski et al 2004;Welter et al 2005;El-Sayed and Suckling 2005;Stelinski 2007;Huang et al 2010), competitive attraction (Welter et al 2005;Stelinski 2007), camouflage of plumes produced by females (Stelinski et al 2004;El-Sayed and Suckling 2005) and impaired or eliminated normal responses to the pheromone (Stelinski et al 2004;Welter et al 2005;El-Sayed and Suckling 2005;Stelinski 2007). The change in response is caused by sensory overload and results in adaptation of the peripheral receptors or habituation of the central nervous system (Stelinski et al 2004;El-Sayed and Suckling 2005;Evenden et al 2005;Stelinski 2007;Witzgall et al 2008). …”