Attractiveness of floral compounds to male and female moths in Florida

Evaluation of combinations of flower odor compounds in the field revealed several chemicals that were attractive or co-attractive with phenylacetaldehyde (PAA) to pest noctuid and pyralid moths. A number of moth species responded positively to PAA. The floral odorants cis-jasmone, linalool, benzyl acetate, limonene, linalool, beta-myrcene, methyl salicylate, and methyl-2-methoxy benzoate all increased captures of some moths when added to traps with PAA, but responses varied among the moth species that were trapped. Soybean looper moths [Pseudoplusia includens (Walker)] most strongly responded to PAA plus beta-myrcene; velvetbean caterpillar moths (Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner) responded most strongly to PAA plus linalool. Positive responses to floral chemical blends were also noted for golden looper Argyrogramma verruca (F.), the grass looper Mocis disseverans (Walker), tobacco budworm Heliothis virescens (F.), southern armyworm Spodoptera eridania (Stoll), and melonworm Diaphania hyalinata (L.). Overall, PAA plus beta-myrcene appeared to be the strongest floral chemical combination for pest species trapped, compared to PAA or other chemical blends.