Survival and attraction of virgin and mated male and female almond moths, Cadra cautella (Walker), to wheat grain in traps was tested during their life span in the laboratory at 25 +/- 1-degrees-C, 65 +/- 5 % R. H. The life span of virgin females was longer than of mated females with 50 % survival of 15 vs. 8.5 days respectively. Similarly, virgin males also lived longer than mated males with 50 % survival of 9.5 vs. 6.5 days respectively. Catch of mated females in traps baited with wheat was low on the first and second day of life and even less so in virgin females; thereafter daily catches increased and ranged around 45 % in both mated and virgin females until the time of 50 % survival. After that age, catches decreased in both cases. Attraction of either mated or unmated males to wheat grain was negligible. Two-choice tests were conducted using wheat paired with one of eight different foods: almond, peanut, walnut, com, soybean, date, fig, and raisin. Except for fig and raisin which were less attractive th. wheat, all other foods tested were equally attractive. The behavioral results obtained in this study are of importance in planning control and monitoring systems for this moth.

The sex pheromone glands ofPlusia chalcites release, dodecyl acetate, (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate, (Z)-9-dodecenyl acetate, 11-dodecenyl acetate, (Z)-8-tridecenyl acetate, and (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate. A combination of capillary GC, GC-MS, and dimethyl disulfide derivatization enabled a rigorous identification of all these compounds, some of which were previously found in gland extracts. Bioassays in a flight tunnel showed that a ternary blend of (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate, (Z)-9-dodecenyl acetate, and (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate elicited directed flights from 85 to 100% of the males tested and elicited copulation attempts, at the end of the flights, from 44 to 74% of the males tested. This blend was equal in activity to the natural gland extract. Addition of the other acetates had only a slight influence on the activity of this mixture. Substitution of either (Z)-9-dodecenyl acetate or (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate in this blend by 11-dodecenyl acetate gave two ternary mixtures which also elicited high levels of courtship activity, almost as high as that of the original blend. Addition of (Z)-7-dodecenyl alcohol inhibited almost totally the flight activity of males.

AbstractAttraction of female Mediterranean fruitfly (medfly) to ammonia and to protein baits was studied with an olfactometer. Ammonia bait (1 cc/trap) proved to be an effective lure. The maximum number of females was caught in traps loaded with 0.01 M ammonia solution with a release rate of 5.28 μg/cc/h.A positive correlation was found between female catch and the ammonia release rate of various protein baits, especially from dry protein hydrolysate of which casein hydrolysate was the most effective. However, casein hydrolysate was less attractive than certain ammonia solutions having a lower rate of ammonia release. Elevation of the pH of the liquid commercial baits, Buminal and Naziman, increased the latter's efficacy as medfly baits but the increased stimulation could not be strictly correlated with the increased rate of ammonia release. It is therefore suggested that medfly olfactory response to protein baits is affected not only by ammonia but by other volatiles as well.RÉSUMÉLe rôle de l'ammoniaque dans l'attraction des femelles de la mouche méditeranéenne aux attractifs è base d'hydrolysars de proteinesL'attraction de la femelle de la mouche méditeranéenne è l'ammoniaque et aux attractifs protéiniques a été étudiée au moyen de l'olfactomètre décrit par Gothilf & Galun (1982). L'ammoniaque (1 cc/piege) s'avéra être un attractif efficace. Le nombre maximum de femelles fut attrappé dans les pièges chargés avec une solution d'ammoniaque 0.01 M ayant une vitesse de diffusion de 5.28/μg/cc/h.Une corrélation positive a été trouvée entre les captures de femelles et les vitesses de diffusion de divers attractifs protéiniques, particulierement ceux à base d'hydrolysats de protéines secs parmi lesquels le plus effectif a été l'hydrolysat de caséine. Toutefois, l'hydrolysat de caséine a été moins attractif que certaines solutions d'ammoniaque ayant une vitesse de diffusion plus basse. Une hausse du pH des attractifs liquides commerciaux, Buminal et Naziman, a augmenté leur efficacité en tant qu'attractifs pour la mouche méditeranéenne; toutefois la stimulation plus intense n'a pu étre mise en correlation stricte avec une vitesse accrue de la diffusion de l'ammoniac. C'est pourquoi il est suggéré que la réaction olfactive de la mouche méditerranéenne est régie, non seulement par l'ammoniaque mais aussi par d'autres substances volatiles.

Male and female Egyptian cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval), mating pairs on plants, and males caught in traps were collected at night in pheromonetreated and untreated plots. A polymeric aerosol formulation containing (Z, E)-9,11-tetradecadienyl acetate (5,000 release points per ha; total of 75 g [AI]/ha; release rate of ca. 3 g/ha per day) effectively reduced captures of males in traps and numbers of females copulating in the treated field. Many releasers spaced closely together appear to be needed for effective mating disruption of S. littoralis. Males responded to pheromone traps most actively when the number of virgin females in the population had declined considerably. Male and female Egyptian cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval), mating pairs on plants, and males caught in traps were collected at night in pheromonetreated and untreated plots. A polymeric aerosol formulation containing (Z, E)-9,11-tetradecadienyl acetate (5,000 release points per ha; total of 75 g [AI]/ha; release rate of ca. 3 g/ha per day) effectively reduced captures of males in traps and numbers of females copulating in the treated field. Many releasers spaced closely together appear to be needed for effective mating disruption of S. littoralis. Males responded to pheromone traps most actively when the number of virgin females in the population had declined considerably.

The sexual behaviour of Plusia chalcites (Esp.) was recorded in the laboratory and field. Females reached peak activity on the 4th night between 0.5–2 h into the scotophase. Maximal amounts of pheromone were found in the pheromone glands of 4–5-day old females. Male activity was monitored in a wind tunnel and peak activity was observed with 5–8-day old males, 1–4 h after the onset of the scotophase. Mating occurred 1–2 h after the beginning of the scotophase. In the field, sexual activity of both sexes was synchronized to the first 2 h of night and mating pairs were collected only during the first 3 h, although single females and males were present throughout the night. This timing of sexual behaviour is probably an important factor, in addition to pheromone specificity, in the sexual separation between P. chalcites and other, sympatric, Plusiinae species.

Night observations on the cotton leafworm,Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), were conducted in pheromone-treated and untreated plots in which males, females, mating pairs on plants, and males caught in traps were collected. Results indicated that emergence of a new population was rapid (8-9 days) and that the number of virgin females and of mating pairs on plants reached a peak 5–6 days prior to that of males captured in pheromone traps. Males responded to pheromone traps most actively when the actual virgin female popution had already declined considerably. Dispensers adsorbed with(Z,E)-9,11-tetradecadienyl acetate and located 25 m apart, effectively reduced male captures in traps. However, the number of native mating pairs observed in the treated field during the night was not reduced. Few releasers at wide spacing, even with high amounts of the major pheromonal component, were ineffective in causing mating disruption ofSpodoptera littoralis.

Olfactory, aggregatory, and feeding responses of normal (untreated) laboratory stocks of Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), and of Caribbean fruit fly (caribfly). Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), were compared to those of flies irradiated (10 had in air) 2 days before eclosion. Females of both species consumed greater quantities of protein hydrolysate solutions, entered protein hydrolysate-baited olfactory traps, and aggregated on agar plates containing protein hydrolysate in greater numbers than males of the same age and condition. However, male medflies consumed more sucrose than did females of the same age and condition. In the medfly, irradiation resulted in reduced olfactory response, reduced total food intake by flies of both sexes, and a significant reduction in aggregation on and intake of protein hydrolysate by females and of sugar consumption by males. In the irradiated caribfly, there was a significant reduction in olfactory response of females to yeast hydrolysate. In both sexes, aggregation on and consumption of yeast hydrolysate were reduced. Effects of irradiation on feeding behavior are discussed in relation to the biology of the flies and their control by the sterile insect release method.

Lures for a monitoring system based on sex attractant trapping of Agrotis segetum males were elaborated for Israel and Germany. Various mixtures of (Z)-5-aecenyl acetate, (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate, (Z)-9-dodecenyl acetate, (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, decyl acetate and dodecyl acetate were tested in 20 different blends. From comparison of all the trap catches a four-component lure consisting of (Z)-5-decenyl, (Z)-7-dodecenyl, (Z)-9-tetradecenyl and dodecyl acetate is recommended for monitoring of A. segetum in both countries.