ARS | Publication request: SPECIES' COMPOSITION OF MOTHS CAPTURED IN TRAPS BAITED WITH ACETIC ACID AND3-METHYL-1-BUTANOL, IN YAKIMA COUNTY, WASHINGTON

Submitted to: Journal of Lepidopterists Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: January 1, 2000
Publication Date: March 15, 2001
Citation: Landolt, P.J., Hammond, P.C. 2001. Species' composition of moths captured in traps baited with acetic acid and 3-methyl-1-butanol, in Yakima county, Washington. Journal of Lepidopterists Society. 55:53-58.

Interpretive Summary: New approaches and methods are needed to control lepidopterous larvae on agricultural crops without using broad spectrum pesticides. Chemical attractants can be used to determine the best time to use control methods and can be used directly to trap problem insect pests. Scientists at the USDA-ARS Yakima Agricultural Research Laboratory are developing such attractants for use against a number of moth species that are pests of tree fruit and vegetable crops. One such lure that was recently discovered is acetic acid with 3-methyl-1-butanol, which is attractive to several moth pests in the family Noctuidae. Additional studies show that this chemical blend is attractive to a large number of species of related moths, primarily Noctuidae and including many crop pests. This information will promote additional work and will direct research to develop these chemicals as lures and baits for these additional problem species.

Technical Abstract: Moths were captured in traps baited with acetic acid and 3-methyl-1-butanol at 4 sites in Yakima County, Washington, from March to October, 1999. Nine hundred and ninety-one moths captured were identified to 60 species. Three families of Lepidoptera were represented: Noctuidae, Thyatiridae, and Pyralidae. The majority of species (90%) and individuals (90%) were noctuids. These included numbers of several pest species: the forage looper Caenurgina erechtea Cramer, glassy cutworm Apamea devastator Brace, bertha armyworm Mamestra configurata Walker, true armyworm Pseudaletia unipuncta Haworth, and spotted cutworm Xestia c-nigrum L., Noctuids collected included representatives of the subfamilies Catocolinae, Cuculliinae, Hadeninae, Amphipyrinae, and Noctuinae. The majority of moths trapped were captured during late summer.