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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #233268
Title: Binary floral lure attractive to velvetbean caterpillar adults (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Author
item Meagher, Robert - Rob
item Landolt, Peter

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/11/2010
Publication Date: 3/1/2010
Citation: Meagher Jr, R.L., Landolt, P.J. 2010. Binary floral lure attractive to velvetbean caterpillar adults (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Florida Entomologist. 93(1):73-79

Interpretive Summary: Velvetbean caterpillar is a migratory agricultural pest whose larvae attack various row crops such as soybeans and peanuts in the eastern and central United States. Although sex pheromone components have been identified, commercially available lures are difficult to obtain and only attract male moths. Scientists at the Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, Florida, and at the Yakima Agricultural Research Laboratory, Wapato, Washington, are improving trapping techniques that will aid in monitoring adult populations. This report describes capture of velvetbean caterpillar, along with other pests such as soybean looper and melonworm, in traps baited with synthetic floral odorants. One binary lure composed of phenylacetaldehyde plus linalool was very good at attracting large numbers of both male and female moths. Over a 4-week trapping period, almost 13,000 male and female moths were collected. Future control tactics may include this combination in an attract-and-kill strategy.

Technical Abstract: A number of moth species responded positively to phenylacetaldehyde (PAA) and to the binary blend of PAA + linalool in tests conducted in peanut fields in northern Florida, USA. Velvetbean caterpillar moths (Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner) were the most commonly collected species, with almost 13,000 males and females collected in a 4-week period in 2006. The noctuid moths soybean looper [Chrysodeixis includens (Walker)], golden looper [Argyrogramma verruca (F.)], Mocis disseverans (Walker), M. latipes, fall armyworm [Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith)], and the pyralid melonworm [Diaphania hyalinata (L.)] were collected in traps baited with the binary blend. Management application of these floral attractants in an attract-and-kill strategy is discussed.