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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #119871
Title: BOTH SEXES OF THE TRUE ARMYWORM,(LEPIDOPTERA:NOCTUIDAE) TRAPPED WITH THE FEEDING ATTRACTANT COMPOSED OF ACETIC ACID AND 3-METHYL-1-BUTANOL.

Author
item Landolt, Peter
item Higbee, Bradley

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2001
Publication Date: 3/20/2001
Citation: Landolt, P.J., Higbee, B.S. 2001. Both sexes of the true armyworm,(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) trapped with the feeding attractant composed of acetic acid and 3-methyl-1-butanol. Florida Entomologist. 85:182-185.

Interpretive Summary: New approaches & 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 developed is the combination of the chemicals acetic and 3- methyl-1-butanol, which is attractive to both sexes of the Lacanobia fruitworm & other moth pests in the family Noctuidae. It was subsequently discovered that this chemical combination is also strongly attractive to males & females of the true armyworm, which can be captured in traps baited with this lure. The true armyworm is a noctuid moth pest of numerous forage and vegetable crops. This lure provides the first means of monitoring the activities of adult females of this widespread crop pest and it may be useful as a means of managing true armyworm populations through baiting or mass trapping approaches.

Technical Abstract: Male and female true armyworm moths, Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haworth), were captured in traps baited with the combination of acetic acid and 3-methyl-1-butanol and placed near corn fields. In a comparison of these chemicals presented individually and together, significantly great numbers of moths were captured in traps baited with acetic acid and 3-methyl-1-butanol, compared to traps baited with acetic acid alone or traps baited with 3- methyl-1-butanol alone. Similar responses to these chemicals were documented for the moth Lacanobia subjuncta. Eighty percent of the female P. unipuncta moths captured in September in traps baited with acetic acid and 3-methyl-1-butanol were unmated and immature (no eggs and with considerable fat body). The remaining 20 percent of those females captured were mated and had some ovarian development.