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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #154823
Title: PERFORMANCE OF STERILE CACTOBLASTIS CACTORUM (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE) FEMALES IN LURING MALES TO TRAPS

Author
item BLOEM, STEPHANIE - FLORIDA A&M UNIV.
item Carpenter, James
item BLOEM, KENNETH - USDA APHIS PPQ CPHST

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2003
Publication Date: 12/1/2003
Citation: Bloem, S., Carpenter, J.E., Bloem, K.A. 2003. Performance of sterile Cactoblastis cactorum (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) females in luring males to traps. Florida Entomologist. 86(4):395-399.

Interpretive Summary: The unintentional arrival of the cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum, in Florida has raised concerns for the safety of native and rare Opuntia species in the Florida Keys and the potential spread of C. cactorum to the Opuntia-rich areas of the western U.S. and Mexico. In addition to threatening the biodiversity of these native ecosystems, the negative publicity from such non-target effects could heighten public concern over the use of exotic natural enemies and jeopardize future weed biological control programs. A good method is needed for monitoring the expanding range of this pest. Traps baited with female C. cactorum have been effective in detecting C. cactorum adult males. However, the use of fertile females in traps placed beyond the currently infested area is discouraged because an escaped fertile female might establish a breeding population and expand the infested area. In this study we compare the attractiveness and the longevity of fertile and irradiated (sterile) females deployed as bait in traps. We found that traps baited with females sterilized with gamma radiation were as effective as traps baited with unirradiated (fertile) females in detecting populations of feral C. cactorum male moths.

Technical Abstract: Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is renown for its control of invasive cacti (Opuntia spp.). Its accidental arrival in Florida and its rapidly expanding range along the Gulf coast pose an imminent threat to native Opuntia spp., especially in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. Adequate survey techniques are crucial in order to delineate the rate of spread of this invasive species. Virgin female-baited sticky traps have been effective in detecting C. cactorum adult males in areas where visual surveys failed to detect larval damage. However, the use of fertile females in traps placed beyond the currently infested area is discouraged because an escaped fertile female might establish a breeding population and expand the infested area. In this study we compare the attractiveness and the longevity of fertile and irradiated (sterile) females deployed as bait in traps. Traps baited with females sterilized with gamma radiation were as effective as traps baited with unirradiated (fertile) females in detecting populations of feral C. cactorum male moths.