Commercially available sex pheromone lures for the stored product moth Plodia interpunctella are used to monitor moth populations. However, since the identification of the major sex pheromone “ZETA” (Z-9, E-12 tetradecandienyl acetate), in 1971 and numerous scientific papers studying this compound, few have investigated distance over which moths respond to traps. Our objective was to determine captures of moths in traps baited with lures with varied pheromone concentration after being released from different locations, and to determine if such information can aid in mapping and locating infestations. Moths were released and then captured in a grid pattern of 30 Trece Pherocon II flight traps with increasing concentrations of ZETA (1µg, 5µg, 25µg, 50µg, and 100µg per lure) in separate trials as the only attractant in a 100m2 warehouse. The total number of moths caught in traps was similar for all concentrations investigated, thus all concentrations were able to similarly monitor infestations. In general, the highest numbers of moths were captured in traps within 3 meters of the release site, and captures decreased as the distance from the release site increased, independent of pheromone concentration. Maps from “bubble plots” showing magnitude of trap catches clearly encircle the release site in most cases. This information can be applicable to stored product facilities that have product losses due to Indianmeal moth by indicating the presence of a population and accurately locating it. Appropriate strategies can then be taken on a timely basis to control the pest population in a targeted manner.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Pyralidae Plodia interpunctella (Indian meal moth)
Keywords: stored-product insects
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