Pheromone responses of Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) from north of its range in Europe

Abstract

The European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) has recently become very harmful to maize in the North of its range in Europe, primarily in Belarus. Conventional pheromone-trapping methods however show very low effectiveness. Our electrophysiological study did not reveal any impairment in peripheral sensitivity, but flight-tunnel responses were low. The reason for such discrepancy could lie in breeding of the Z race of moth coming with maize from south with local populations of the pest.