Optimization and field evaluation of sex‐pheromone of potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Abstract

BACKGROUND The potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella is a key pest of potato and tobacco in China. We compared the sex pheromone titers released by P. operculella female, and the electroantennogram (EAG) responses of male antennae to pheromone compounds under laboratory conditions. Then, the optimal sex pheromone ratio was screened in the field. RESULTS The P. operculella sex pheromone feeding on potato or tobacco was extracted by solvent‐extraction method. Main sex pheromone compounds including E4, Z7‐13: AC (PTM1) and E4, Z7, Z10‐13: AC (PTM2) were found in gland. The titer and relative ratio of P. operculella sex pheromone compounds secreted by female adult moths differ between host populations, while the relative EAG responses trend of P. operculella males to the pheromone components were the same when directly stimulated. In field trials, PTM1:PTM2 = 8:1–4:1 and PTM1:PTM2 = 1:4–1:7 was the most attractive ratio to P. operculella males in tobacco and potato fields, respectively. During 2019–2020, after 8 weeks of mass trapping for each year, the sex pheromone could reduce the population of P. operculella in the potato and tobacco fields. CONCLUSIONS In this study, fixed property and quantity analyzing methods were adopted to compare sex pheromones from feeding on potato versus tobacco. EAG tests then were carried out on P. operculella males. Finally, we optimized the ratio of two sex pheromone compounds in potato and examined how this influenced field trapping. By further improving the parameters of sex pheromone application in the field, we demonstrate that deployment of sex pheromones can provide effective control of P. operculella. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Identification of sex pheromone in Macdunnoughia crassisigna Warren (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and field optimization of the sex attractant

“…This approach has previously yielded success in developing pheromone lures for various pest species. 14,16,[38][39][40] In this study, the pheromone ratio was established based on the reasonable quantities of Z7-12:OAc and Z9-14:OAc loaded into each septum. This approach has merit in terms of standardizing and commercializing insect attractants, because previous studies have confirmed the highly consistent proportion of moth pheromones released from rubber septa compared with the amount loaded.…”

“…Virgin female moths (3 days old) were used to collect sex pheromones at the 7–8 h of scotophase. The sex pheromone glands were extruded by gently pressing the abdomen of virgin females and excised using surgical scissors 13,14 . Fifty glands were collected and immersed in 500 μL of hexane for 20 min, and the gland extract was filtered and stored at −20 °C for subsequent pheromone analysis and wind tunnel bioassays.…”

“…For EAD preparation, an antenna, quickly excised from a virgin M. crassisigna male (3 days old), had its distal end removed and affixed between two electrodes using insect Ringer's solution. 14 Data were analyzed using the GC-EAD software (v. 2.5). For GC-EAD analysis, ten female and ten male antennae were tested.…”

Biodegradable electrospun fibers as sustained‐release carriers of insect pheromones for field trapping of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

“…7 The pheromones can play a role in monitoring, interfering with mating and trapping in the control of S. litura and other field crop pests. 8,9 However, the instability of semiochemicals has limited their development speed in the pest control market, so the technical route of related products has focused on the invention of sustained-release carriers. In the research into pheromone carriers, the passive dispenser, comprising a rubber stopper and plastic tube, offers good practical value and economy.…”

Population growth of Tetranychus truncatus (Acari: Tetranychidae) on different drought-tolerant potato cultivars

“…Consequently, a wide range of synthetic acaricides is continuously used for their management, which not only poses a threat to non-target organisms and human health, but produces resistance to many acaricides (Elzen 2001, Alsendi et al 2018, Dana et al 2018). In order to minimize the use of chemical acaricides, it is imperative to explore an alternative approach for population prediction and management of pest mites (Yan et al 2022). Host-plant resistance can affect phytophagous pests' growth and development as well as enhance the diversity of natural enemies, hence considered one of the most effective and perdurable approaches in integrated pest management (IPM) systems (Follett 2017, Zhang et al 2022a).…”