Potential oviposition repellent for the navel orangeworm (Amyelois transitella) in almond orchards of central california

A battery of twenty broad spectrum insect repellents were tested as potential oviposition repellents for the navel orangeworm (NOW), Amylois transitella, through the following approach: Electrophysiological recordings, laboratory behavioral assays, and a field behavioral assay. Adult female moth antennae were first excised and used in electroantennogram (EAG) assays to identify which of those twenty repellents the female antennae could detect. Of the twenty repellents three showed significant EAG responses. These three repellents were then tested under laboratory conditions in small cage two choice assays. Significantly reduced oviposition was observed for two of the three repellents. These two repellents are currently applied in almond orchards in Arbuckle, CA to determine oviposition repellency under field conditions with field populations. Here, we describe our approach toward development of new repellents, and discuss the latest field results.