Optimization of pheromone lure and trap design for monitoring the fir coneworm, Dioryctria abietivorella

Abstract

The major components of the sex pheromone of Dioryctria abietivorella (Groté) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were recently identified as (9 Z ,11 E )-tetradecadien-1-yl acetate (9 Z ,11 E -14:Ac) and a polyunsaturated, long-chain hydrocarbon (3 Z ,6 Z ,9 Z ,12 Z ,15 Z )-pentacosapentaene (C25 pentaene). The optimal ratio of these components and the role of potential minor components were not fully determined in the initial short report on the pheromone's identification. We tested different ratios of the two major components loaded into grey halobutyl rubber septum dispensers, placed in sticky traps deployed in conifer breeding arboreta. The optimal ratio of the two components was 200 µ g 9 Z ,11 E -14:Ac to 2000 µ g C25 pentaene. ( Z )-9-Tetradecen-1-yl acetate, which had been identified previously in female pheromone gland extracts, and five other potential minor pheromone components, were tested individually as additions to the optimized two-component lure blend. None of the ternary blends were more attractive than the optimized two-component blend, at the ratios tested. Two lure adjuvants, a UV stabilizer (Sumisorb 300) and the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene, added individually or together, did not affect the attractiveness of the optimized lure blend. The Pherotech diamond sticky trap baited with the optimized lure blend was the most effective trap design among eight types of sticky trap and a bucket style trap that were tested. Traps baited with synthetic lures were as attractive as traps baited with virgin female moths. The optimized two-component lure blend in the Pherotech diamond trap is recommended for monitoring fir coneworm infestations. The availability of an effective synthetic pheromone opens the possibility for control tactics using mating disruption or attract-and-kill techniques.

(3<I>Z</I>,6<I>Z</I>,9<I>Z</I>,12<I>Z</I>,15<I>Z</I>)-Pentacosapentaene and (<I>Z</I>)-11-Hexadecenyl Acetate: Sex Attractant Blend for <I>Dioryctria amatella</I> (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

“…For example, in British Columbia, male D. abietivorella were attracted to a 1:10 ratio of Z9,E11Ð14:Ac and pentaene, with no effect from the addition of Z9 Ð 14:Ac (Strong et al 2008). In contrast, Z9 Ð14:Ac was essential for eliciting attraction of D. abietivorella to the same combination of Z9,E11Ð14:Ac and pentaene in Quebec (Grant et al 2009).…”

“…Lures were prepared by loading compounds onto gray rubber septa (11 mm; The West Co., Lionville PA) in 100 l of hexane, with butylated hydroxytoluene and Sumisorb 300 (each 5 mg/ml) added as stabilizers to the solutions. These adjuvants had no effect on trap catches of D. abietivorella (Strong et al 2008). Commercial lures for D. amatella (SPC) were obtained from APTIV Inc. (Portland OR).…”

“…Recently, the Þrst examples of moths in the families Pyralidae and Crambidae that use combinations of type I and type II pheromones have been found, including Dioryctria abietivorella Grote, whose pheromone consists of a blend of (9Z,11E)-tetradecadienyl acetate (Z9,E11Ð14:Ac) and (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-pentacosapentaene (pentaene) (Millar et al 2005). Pentaene signiÞcantly enhanced attraction of male D. abietivorella to traps baited with Z9,E11Ð14:Ac in Douglas-Þr (Pseudotsuga Carriè re) seed orchards in British Columbia, Canada, where a blend of pentaene and Z9,E11Ð14:Ac is now used routinely for monitoring D. abietivorella (Strong et al 2008). In Quebec, Canada, pentaene is also a critical pheromone component for D. abietivorella in white spruce, Picea glauca (Moench) Voss seed orchards (Grant et al 2009).…”

Identification, Synthesis and Field Testing of (3Z,6Z,9Z)-3,6,9-Henicosatriene, a Second Bioactive Component of the Sex Pheromone of the Autumn Gum Moth, Mnesampela privata

“…Although this difference was not significant here, Allison and Cardé (2006) found that the ratio of pheromone components in a pyralid moth (Cadra cautella (Walker)) changed with female age, and suggested that males could use this to assess the reproductive value of females, which declined markedly with age. If this is the case in M. privata, it may explain why significantly more males were caught in traps baited with a lower ratio of C19: C21 triene (16:1) than in traps baited with a ratio closer to the average found in females (33:1) (see also : Szöcs et al 1993;Strong et al 2008).…”

(3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)‐pentacosapentaene and (9Z,11E)‐tetradecadienyl acetate: sex pheromone of the spruce coneworm Dioryctria abietella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

“…The observed antagonistic effect in D. abietella males to 9 Z ,12 E ‐14:OAc may be explained by the fact that it stimulates the same receptor as 9 Z ‐14:OAc (Löfstedt et al 1983). The effect of 9 Z ,12 E ‐14:OAc on male attraction also has been evaluated for D. abietivorella from western North America (Strong et al 2008). No antagonistic effect was observed, but the absolute amount (2 μg), as well as the relative amount (1% of 9 Z ,11 E ‐14:OAc in blend) of the compound applied to dispensers were lower than those used in the present study with D. abietella (3–30 μg; 3‐30% of 9 Z ,11 E ‐14:OAc in blend) .…”