Tests of Motor Stimulants for Eastern Spruce Budworm Moths (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Abstract

The insecticide phosphamidon, both alone and mixed with other chemicals, was tested in the laboratory as a motor stimulant to female spruce budworm moths. For phosphamidon alone, the time to reaction of virgin female budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) moths was about 40 min. However, small supplements of pyrethrum or synthetic pyrethroids reduced the reaction time to about 3–8 min. The slow reaction to phosphamidon alone could account for the failure of that insecticide to kill gravid females. It is postulated that moths quickly stimulated to flight activity within the canopy would be more likely to acquire a lethal dose of insecticide before the spray cloud dissipated.

Biochemical effects of sublethal doses of cypermethrin on the sixth‐instar larvae of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.)

“…Although extensive studies on the toxic effects of pyrethroids have been undertaken, there are few reports on their sublethal effects. Some of these pertain to suppressed oviposition in the cigarette beetle after exposure to 448 Saleern and Shakoori pyrethrum sprays [lo], reduced fecundity of exposed female boll weevils to NRDC 161 [ll], motor stimulation of virgin female eastern spruce budworm moths by permethrin [12], increased activity and equal mating success of treated males with reduced fecundity in females of tsetse fly to permethrin [13], etc. Details of the effects of sublethal doses of synthetic pyrethroids are needed to add to information on their biochemical action.…”