Fermented or Floral? Developing a Generalized Food Bait Lure to Monitor Cutworm and Armyworm Moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Field Crops
Cutworms and armyworms (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are a pest complex in North America that cause sporadic damage in field crops on the Canadian Prairies; however, no methods have been developed to reliably monitor population densities. Food-based semiochemicals attract both sexes of adult moths and co...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/2/106 |
| _version_ | 1797620298551394304 |
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| author | Ronald E. Batallas Maya L. Evenden |
| author_facet | Ronald E. Batallas Maya L. Evenden |
| author_sort | Ronald E. Batallas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cutworms and armyworms (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are a pest complex in North America that cause sporadic damage in field crops on the Canadian Prairies; however, no methods have been developed to reliably monitor population densities. Food-based semiochemicals attract both sexes of adult moths and could be used to monitor multiple species with a single lure in a single trap. Here, we focus on enhancing the attractiveness of acetic acid and 3-methyl-1-butanol (AAMB) lures to redbacked cutworm (<i>Euxoa ochrogaster</i>) (RBC) and other noctuid pests. Experiments conducted in canola and wheat fields tested AAMB lures at different release rates, from different devices and in combination with other semiochemicals. High-release lures captured more females in canola, while low-release lures captured more males in wheat. Thus, crop volatiles may influence response to lures. Semiochemicals embedded in an inert matrix caught more RBC moths than semiochemicals released from Nalgene or polyethylene dispensers did. More RBC females were attracted to AAMB lures with 2-methyl-1-propanol than phenylacetaldehyde. Fermented volatiles appear to be a more reliable attractant than floral volatiles for these species. RBC moth antennae produced significant responses to all doses of phenylacetaldehyde tested in electroantennogram assays, but only to higher doses of acetic acid and 3-methyl-1-butanol. Physiological state of the RBC moths also influenced responsiveness to the tested semiochemical. Feeding status did not influence the antennal response to acetic acid and phenylacetaldehyde in either sex, but it increased the response to 3-methyl-1-butanol in females when fed. AAMB lures should be further developed to monitor RBC moths and other noctuid pests in field crops. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:40:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ea7e31eefe264a3484e271d6643a02e9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:40:15Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-ea7e31eefe264a3484e271d6643a02e92023-11-16T21:13:55ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502023-01-0114210610.3390/insects14020106Fermented or Floral? Developing a Generalized Food Bait Lure to Monitor Cutworm and Armyworm Moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Field CropsRonald E. Batallas0Maya L. Evenden1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, CW-405 Biological Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, CanadaDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, CW-405 Biological Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, CanadaCutworms and armyworms (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are a pest complex in North America that cause sporadic damage in field crops on the Canadian Prairies; however, no methods have been developed to reliably monitor population densities. Food-based semiochemicals attract both sexes of adult moths and could be used to monitor multiple species with a single lure in a single trap. Here, we focus on enhancing the attractiveness of acetic acid and 3-methyl-1-butanol (AAMB) lures to redbacked cutworm (<i>Euxoa ochrogaster</i>) (RBC) and other noctuid pests. Experiments conducted in canola and wheat fields tested AAMB lures at different release rates, from different devices and in combination with other semiochemicals. High-release lures captured more females in canola, while low-release lures captured more males in wheat. Thus, crop volatiles may influence response to lures. Semiochemicals embedded in an inert matrix caught more RBC moths than semiochemicals released from Nalgene or polyethylene dispensers did. More RBC females were attracted to AAMB lures with 2-methyl-1-propanol than phenylacetaldehyde. Fermented volatiles appear to be a more reliable attractant than floral volatiles for these species. RBC moth antennae produced significant responses to all doses of phenylacetaldehyde tested in electroantennogram assays, but only to higher doses of acetic acid and 3-methyl-1-butanol. Physiological state of the RBC moths also influenced responsiveness to the tested semiochemical. Feeding status did not influence the antennal response to acetic acid and phenylacetaldehyde in either sex, but it increased the response to 3-methyl-1-butanol in females when fed. AAMB lures should be further developed to monitor RBC moths and other noctuid pests in field crops.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/2/106cutwormarmyworm<i>Euxoa ochrogaster</i>semiochemicalacetic acidalcohol |
| spellingShingle | Ronald E. Batallas Maya L. Evenden Fermented or Floral? Developing a Generalized Food Bait Lure to Monitor Cutworm and Armyworm Moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Field Crops Insects cutworm armyworm <i>Euxoa ochrogaster</i> semiochemical acetic acid alcohol |
| title | Fermented or Floral? Developing a Generalized Food Bait Lure to Monitor Cutworm and Armyworm Moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Field Crops |
| title_full | Fermented or Floral? Developing a Generalized Food Bait Lure to Monitor Cutworm and Armyworm Moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Field Crops |
| title_fullStr | Fermented or Floral? Developing a Generalized Food Bait Lure to Monitor Cutworm and Armyworm Moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Field Crops |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fermented or Floral? Developing a Generalized Food Bait Lure to Monitor Cutworm and Armyworm Moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Field Crops |
| title_short | Fermented or Floral? Developing a Generalized Food Bait Lure to Monitor Cutworm and Armyworm Moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Field Crops |
| title_sort | fermented or floral developing a generalized food bait lure to monitor cutworm and armyworm moths lepidoptera noctuidae in field crops |
| topic | cutworm armyworm <i>Euxoa ochrogaster</i> semiochemical acetic acid alcohol |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/2/106 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ronaldebatallas fermentedorfloraldevelopingageneralizedfoodbaitluretomonitorcutwormandarmywormmothslepidopteranoctuidaeinfieldcrops AT mayalevenden fermentedorfloraldevelopingageneralizedfoodbaitluretomonitorcutwormandarmywormmothslepidopteranoctuidaeinfieldcrops |