Optimizing a pheromone lure for the sugar beet root maggot fly, Tetanops myopaeformis

Abstract

We previously described a putative aggregation pheromone in adults of the sugar beet root maggot, Tetanops myopaeformis (von R€ oder) (Diptera: Ulidiidae), comprising nine compounds identified from males. Here, we conducted a series of experiments aimed at simplifying the blend of compounds necessary to achieve attraction as well as determining the dose that maximizes captures when formulated into an attractant lure. In all experiments, females showed stronger and more consistent evidence of attraction than males. White sticky traps baited with different blends of pheromone compounds that included the major component, (R)-(À)-2-nonanol, showed significantly higher female captures relative to those baited with blends that excluded the major component. (R)-(À)-2-nonanol alone was at least as effective as any blend that included this compound with other minor pheromone components. Lures using racemic 2-nonanol were as effective as the (R) enantiomer for both females and males, with some evidence of weak attraction to the (S) enantiomer (which is not produced by males) observed as well. Maximum capture rates using racemic 2-nonanol were estimated to occur with doses of ca. 795.5 and 621.6 mg for females and males, respectively. Addition of 2-nonanol lures to standard orange sticky stake traps currently used to monitor flies increased captures of both sexes. The pheromone lure developed here could improve trapping efficiency of current monitoring programs for T. myopaeformis and may also be used to develop other management tools for this important pest of sugar beet.

Sex pheromone of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda: identification of a trace component that enhances attractiveness and specificity

“…Therefore, for development of an efficient management tactic against this pest, it is critical not only to forecast the timing of immigration, but also to monitor local occurrence by capturing moths. Pheromone‐baited traps are generally species‐specific, easy to handle, and cost‐effective, and they are frequently used for monitoring of insects (e.g., Parker et al, 2020; Wenninger & Eigenbrode, 2020; Liu et al, 2021).…”