Host-plant green-leaf volatiles synergize the synthetic sex pheromones of the corn earworm and codling moth (Lepidoptera)

Abstract

Summary. The capture of adult male moths in female sex pheromone traps of two key agricultural pests, the corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) and the codling moth (Cydia pomonella), is enhanced or synergized by a certain group of host-plant volatiles, the "green-leaf volatiles" (GLVs). Since female adults of both species call and release their sex pheromones while perched upon the leaves of their host-plants, the volatile constituents from the leaves of a number of host-plants were compared. Sex pheromone traps containing one of the prominent leaf volatiles of certain H. zea hosts, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, not only significantly increased the capture of H. zea males but were preferred over traps baited only with sex pheromone. Similarly, traps baited with synthetic sex pheromome of C. pomonella plus a blend of GLVs captured significantly more males than traps baited only with sex pheromone. Since male moths are not captured in traps baited only with these GLVs, it appears that these GLVs act as pheromone synergists which increase or enhance the attraction or arrestment of male moths in pheromone traps.

Monitoring Grape Berry Moth (Paralobesia viteana: Lepidoptera) in Commercial Vineyards using a Host Plant Based Synthetic Lure

“…In contrast, in ßight-tunnel trials male European berry moth did not orient to grapes or other grape tissue whereas females did (Masante-Roca et al 2007). However, there is a growing body of evidence that male moths of a signiÞcant number of species are able to perceive and respond to host plant volatiles and in some cases, the addition of plant volatile cues with sex pheromone can result in increased capture of males (Light et al 1993, Landolt and Phillips 1997, Yang et al 2004, Schmidt-Bü sser et al 2009 but see Trimble and El-Sayed 2005). Indeed, a more recent study showed that male L. botrana oriented to their host plant volatiles (Von Arx et al 2011).…”

Coding and interaction of sex pheromone and plant volatile signals in the antennal lobe of the codling moth Cydia pomonella

“…Pear ester attracts males and females and has been shown to mediate the location of food sources and oviposition sites Landolt et al, 2007;Light et al, 2001). Butyl hexanoate, a component of ripe apple headspace, attracts mated females Hern and Dorn, 2004), whereas (Z)3-hexenol enhances the attraction of males toward sex pheromone (Light et al, 1993;Yang et al, 2004). In contrast to males, the sesquiterpenes (E,E)-a-farnesene and (E)-bfarnesene elicited strong responses in female AL neurons (Tables1, 2).…”

Development of bisexual attractants for diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) based on sex pheromone and host volatiles

“…Host odor enhancement of attraction responses of males to pheromones was reported in several insect orders Light et al, 1993;Fang and Zhang, 2002;Deng et al, 2004). Reddy and Guerrero (2000b) reported that the mixture of (Z )-3-hexenyl acetate with synthetic sex pheromone had a synergistic effect on the capture of P. xylostella moths in the field in comparison with synthetic sex pheromone alone.…”