Effect of sex pheromone emission on the attraction of Lobesia botrana

Since the discovery of Lobesia botrana Denis & Schiffermüller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) sex pheromone, it has played an important role in the control and detection of this pest, for example, through the use of pheromone‐baited traps and mating disruption techniques. Rubber septa are the most common pheromone dispensers used in monitoring traps, but often dispenser performance is not optimized. The key to improve methods based on pheromones as attractants (monitoring, mass trapping, or ‘attract and kill’) is to know the optimum emission interval, because release rates can strongly affect the attraction. In this work, five levels of pheromone load with different release rates were compared in traps using mesoporous pheromone dispensers to investigate the optimum release rate maximizing L. botrana catches. Residual pheromone loads of the dispensers were extracted and quantified by gas chromatography, to study release profiles and to estimate the various emission levels. The efficacy of pheromone emission was measured in field trials as number of moths caught. A quadratic model was fitted to relate the numbers caught vs. the daily emission rates. The resulting quadratic term was statistically significant, confirming the existence of a relative maximum for L. botrana catches. Taking into account that the trial was carried out only in one location, an optimum emission value of ca. 400 μg per day could be considered to enhance the attraction of L. botrana under West‐Mediterranean weather conditions.     

Climate warming effects on grape and grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana) in the Palearctic region

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Prospective analysis of the invasive potential of the European grapevine moth Lobesia botrana (Den. & Schiff.) in California

• 1 The polyphagous European grapevine moth Lobesia botrana (Den. & Schiff.) is the principal native pest of grape berries in the Palearctic region. It was found in Napa County, California, in 2009, and it has subsequently been recorded in an additional nine counties, despite an ongoing eradication programme. The present study aimed to assess prospectively its potential geographical distribution and relative abundance in California and the continental U.S.A. A subsidiary goal was to provide explanation for timing control measures.
• 2 Data from the European literature were used to formulate and parameterize a holistic physiologically‐based demographic model for L. botrana. This model was linked to an extant mechanistic model of grapevine phenology, growth and development that provides the bottom‐up effects of fruiting phenology, age and abundance on L. botrana dynamics. Fruit age affects larval developmental rates, and has carryover effects on pupal development and adult fecundity. Also included in the model were the effects of temperature on developmental, survival and fecundity rates.
• 3 Observed daily weather data were used to simulate the potential distribution of the moth in California, and the continental U.S.A. The relative total number of pupae per vine per year was used as the metric of favourability at all locations. The simulation data were mapped using grass gis ( http://grass.osgeo.org/ ).
• 4 The model predicts L. botrana can spread statewide with the highest populations expected in the hotter regions of southern California and the lower half of the Central Valley. In the U.S.A., areas of highest favourability include south Texas, and much of the southeast U.S.A.
• 5 The effects of a warmer climate on pest abundance were explored by increasing observed mean temperatures 2° and 3 °C. L. botrana abundance is expected to increase in northern California and in the agriculturally rich Central Valley but to decrease in the hot deserts of southern California where summer temperatures would approach its upper thermal limit.
• 6 Analysis of the timing of mating disruption pheromone for control of L. botrana suggests the greatest benefit would accrue by targeting adults emerging from winter diapause pupae and the flight of first summer adults.

     

Possible antagonism of (Z)‐2‐hexenyl (E)‐3‐hexenoate against the attractiveness of (E)‐2‐hexenyl (Z)‐3‐hexenoate to Ooencyrtus nezarae (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)

Ooencyrtus nezarae (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is an egg parasitoid of bean bug Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae) which is a major pest of beans. Females of O. nezarae are attracted to (E)‐2‐hexenyl (Z)‐3‐hexenoate (EZ), one of the components of aggregation pheromone of R. pedestris. Effects of three isomers (ZE, EE and ZZ) of EZ on the attractiveness of O. nezarae were tested using electroantennography (EAG) and field bioassays. EAG analyses revealed that the response of O. nezarae to ZE was significantly higher than those to air, hexane and two other isomers, even though the response was lower than that to EZ. ZE affected the attractiveness of EZ dose‐dependently in the field. Addition of ZE (100 mg) to EZ (10 mg) caused a significant reduction in the catches of O. nezarae females. Single or binary addition of two other isomers (EE and ZZ) to EZ could not decrease or increase significantly the number of O. nezarae catches of EZ. Even though addition of ZZ (10, 50 or 100 mg) to EZ (10 mg) caused dose‐dependent reduction in the number of O. nezarae female catches, the reductions were not significantly different from that of EZ. EZ and its three isomers were not attractive to O. nezarae males at all.     

Variability in the efficacy of sex pheromone lures for monitoring oriental fruit moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Studies were conducted in Chile and the United States to compare the attractiveness of various commercial sex pheromone lures and two experimental lures for oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck), in peach orchards treated with or without sex pheromone dispensers. The experimental lures contained the three‐component sex pheromone blend of G. molesta: Z‐8‐dodecenyl acetate, E‐8‐dodecenyl acetate and Z‐8‐dodecenol (Z8‐12:OH), and the sex pheromone of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), (E,E)‐8,10‐dodecadien‐1‐ol, (codlemone). Commercial lures varied in their substrate, initial loading and blend ratio of components. Significant differences in male catches were found among commercial lures in orchards treated with or without sex pheromone dispensers. Experimental lures with the addition of codlemone significantly increased the catches of G. molesta using lures loaded with 0%, 1% or 5% Z8‐12:OH in the G. molesta blend compared with the same ratio of components in just the G. molesta blend. The experimental lures were significantly more attractive than all commercial lures in the untreated orchard. However, moth catch with the experimental lures in the sex pheromone‐treated orchard was only intermediate among all of the lures tested. These findings highlight the need to develop more effective and standardized lures that can be used in trap‐based monitoring programme for this important pest.     

Female sex pheromone of Athetis lepigone (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Identification and field evaluation

Athetis lepigone has been recorded in many countries in Europe and Asia, but it had never been documented as an agricultural pest until 2005. For the purpose of using the sex pheromone to control this pest, we conducted a study to identify the sex pheromone of A. lepigone by gas chromatography with an electroantennographic detector (GC‐EAD) and GC coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analyses. Three pheromone candidates were detected by GC‐EAD analysis in the extracts of the female sex pheromone gland, and two candidates were identified as (Z)‐7‐dodecenyl acetate (Z7‐12:OAc) and (Z)‐9‐tetradecenyl acetate (Z9‐14:OAc) in a ratio of 1:5 by mass spectral analysis of natural pheromone components and dimethyl disulphide adducts. In the field male trapping test, the traps baited with the binary blend captured high number of males, while traps with single component hardly caught males, indicating that the two components are essential for the male attractiveness. In addition, the optimum ratios of Z7‐12:OAc and Z9‐14:OAc were determined as 3:7–7:3, and the best doses for the binary blend (at ratio of 3:7 between Z7‐12:OAc and Z9‐14:OAc) were 0.25–0.5 mg/trap, based on the number of male catches. The identification of a highly attractive sex pheromone will help in developing efficient strategies for monitoring and control of A. lepigone.     

Development of 2‐phenylethanol plus acetic acid lures to monitor obliquebanded leafroller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) under mating disruption

We evaluated the effectiveness of 2‐phenylethanol (PET) in combination with acetic acid (AA) as a binary lure for monitoring male and female obliquebanded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris). Studies were conducted in apple, Malus domestica Borkhausen, orchards treated with or without sex pheromone dispensers for mating disruption (MD). Open polypropylene vials, closed membrane cups, and rubber septa loaded with AA and/or PET in varying amounts were first evaluated in a series of trapping experiments. Membrane cups loaded with 800 mg of PET were as effective as 10‐mg septa, but longer lasting, and were comparable to the open vials. A membrane cup AA lure was effective in tests, but further work is needed to increase its release rate and extend its activity. Catches of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), and C. rosaceana were unaffected by combining PET with (E,E)‐8,10‐dodecadien‐1‐ol, the sex pheromone of codling moth, pear ester, (E,Z)‐2,4‐ethyl‐decadienoate and AA lures. Adding (E)‐4,8‐dimethyl‐1,3,7‐nonatriene to this blend to enhance codling moth catch significantly reduced catches of C. rosaceana. PET + AA was a more attractive binary lure than AA plus phenylacetonitrile (PAN) for C. rosaceana. The addition of PET or PAN to traps already baited with the sex pheromone of C. rosaceana significantly reduced male catches. Traps baited with PET + AA placed in blocks not treated with MD caught significantly fewer C. rosaceana than traps baited with sex pheromone. In comparison, sex pheromone‐baited traps in MD blocks caught ≤1 male moth per season which was significantly lower than total moth (>10) or female moth (≥3) catch in these blocks with PET + AA. A high proportion (>70%) of trapped females were mated in both untreated and MD‐treated orchards. Further refinement of this binary, bisexual lure using membrane cup technology may allow the establishment of action thresholds and improve management timings for C. rosaceana.     

Wolbachia is present in the European grapevine moth

The European grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana, has high economic impact on grapevines being one of the most harmful pests of vineyards worldwide. Wolbachia infection has not yet been reported for this moth. We systematically look for Wolbachia presence in L. botrana from three areas within the viticultural region of Alentejo (Portugal), via wsp gene specific PCR, and consistently found its presence. The interaction between the grapevine, its associated moth pest and the Wolbachia needs to be further explored, towards its potential in the development of symbiosis-based pest management strategies.     

Suction‐trap catches partially predict infestations of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae in winter wheat fields

Effective pest monitoring programmes are needed for providing reliable advice on when pest populations require active management. We studied whether suction‐trap catches of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae during the period 1989–2009 can be used to predict field infestations of this aphid in Swedish winter wheat fields. We found that suction‐trap catches of S. avenae until the time of crop heading (GS51) were significantly related to both number of aphids per tiller (R² = 0.69 at GS 59 and R² = 0.27 at GS 69) and proportion of fields with infestations above economic threshold (R² = 0.49 at GS 59 and R² = 0.40 at GS 69). This effect was consistent across Swedish regions and years. This information could be used by advisory services and farmers to decide whether field inspection to estimate the profitability of insecticide treatment at heading is needed. To improve the predictive ability further, suction‐trap catches could be combined with weather data and information about biological control potential in different landscapes.     

Addition of terpenoids to pear ester plus acetic acid increases catches of codling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Field studies were conducted to evaluate new kairomone blends in combination with pear ester (E,Z)‐2,4‐ethyl decadienoate (PE) and acetic acid (AA) for their attraction of male and female codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), in apple, Malus domestica Borkhausen. The addition of decanal to either AA or PE alone significantly increased total and female moth catches. However, the addition of decanal did not improve the attraction of PE + AA. The addition of either the pyranoid (PyrLOX) or furanoid (FurLOX) linalool oxide but not linalool (LOL) increased moth catches with PE but did not increase catches with PE + AA. Similarly, the addition of PyrLOX plus decanal did not improve PE + AA. The addition of (E)‐4,8‐dimethyl‐1,3,7‐nonatriene (DMNT) to either AA, PE + AA or PE + AA+decanal did not significantly increase moth catches. However, the addition of PyrLOX to traps with PE + AA and DMNT (4‐component lure) significantly increased moth catches compared with PE + AA alone or any of the ternary blends of these volatiles. Females accounted for 60%–80% of the total catch with this 4‐component lure. The 4‐component blend with PyrLOX was a more attractive lure than similar blends that substituted LOL, or a binary blend of LOL and FurLOX for PyrLOX. The 4‐component blend caught nearly fourfold more total and female moths than the purported attractant N‐butyl sulphide when it was used in combination with PE + AA. These results indicate that significant improvements in monitoring, mating disruption and mass trapping of codling moth are possible. Further studies are needed to assess the new attractive blend's effectiveness in combination with sex pheromone lures and to evaluate whether other host plant volatiles can be added or substitute for DMNT or LOX when used in combination with PE + AA.     

Identification and laboratory behavioral test of the alarm pheromone of Acanthocoris sordidus Thunberg (Hemiptera: Coreidae)

The winter cherry bug, Acanthocoris sordidus Thunberg (Hemiptera: Coreidae), widely spread in South Korea, Japan and Taiwan, is becoming an economic pest in these regions. Its elevated pest status in pepper plant, Capsicum annuum, is a trigger for eco‐friendly management tactics. In order to use its pheromone for pest management, the cuticular components of adult A. sordidus were identified and a behavioral bioassay on the functions of the components was conducted. From the whole‐body extracts of male and female A. sordidus, 13 compounds (hexanal, 1‐hexanol, 2‐hexanol, 3‐hexanol, hexanoic acid, hexyl acetate, heptyl acetate, octyl acetate, tetradecane, 2‐butyl‐2‐octenal, hexyl hexanoate and (2α,4α,6β)‐2,4,6‐tripentyl‐1,3,5‐trioxane (hexanal trimer, cis‐ and trans‐forms) were identified. In addition to these, two unidentified compounds, a male‐specific and a male‐rich compound, were also found. Hexanal provoked clear escaping behavior. 1‐Hexanol, hexyl acetate and hexanoic acid evoked weaker behavior than hexanal. We concluded that hexanal worked as an alarm pheromone and could be used as a pushing signal for a control program for A. sordidus.     

Acetic acid lure placement within traps affects moth catches of codling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Previous studies have shown that the addition of an acetic acid colure (AA) to traps baited with pear ester, (E,Z)‐2,4‐ethyl‐decadienoate, and codlemone, (E,E)‐8,10‐dodecadien‐1‐ol, the sex pheromone (PH) of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), (Combo lure) can significantly increase moth catches. A commercial AA colure was developed to be used with the Combo lure using a specialized cardboard lure holder. However, research in 2011 suggested that the addition of the AA colure placed in the holder was reducing moth catches. Studies were subsequently conducted in both North America and South America to examine the factors affecting these unexpected results. Hanging the AA colure from the inside top of the delta trap was found to be a primary factor reducing moth catches of male but not female codling moth. Significantly, more males were caught if the AA colure was placed on the sticky liner of the trap than in the holder. Laboratory and field studies found that this negative effect on moth catches lessens over time with aged AA colures that had lower emission rates. The position of the holder in the trap (upwind or downwind) relative to the direction where moths approached was not a significant factor affecting moth catch with the AA colure. However, the spacing of the lures on the holder was an important factor with significantly higher male catches with lures 5.5 cm apart and the AA lure above the Combo lure than with lures 1.5 cm apart and the Combo lure above the AA lure. Similarly, pinning the Combo lure to the roof of the trap was more effective than the use of the holder with the AA lure on the liner. Standardization of lure placement will be important to fully utilize the use of bisexual, multilure monitoring systems for codling moth and likely for other pests.     

Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in Lobesia botrana Den. & Schiff. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

The tortricid moth Lobesia botrana is considered to be an important pest of the cultivated grapevine (Vitis vinifera, Vitaceae). It feeds on young flower buds and young fruits, and is the primary vector of the ‘noble mould’ fungus (Botrytis cinerea). In order to study the population dynamics and genetic structure of this species in space and time, we developed seven polymorphic microsatellite markers (three to 12 alleles). Although the presence of null alleles is suspected, these polymorphic loci are likely to provide information on the population genetics of L. botrana, and could help in the development of an efficient control strategy against this pest.     

Monitoring oriental fruit moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) with the Ajar bait trap in orchards under mating disruption

Studies in Oregon, California, Pennsylvania and Italy evaluated the relative performance of the Ajar trap compared with several other traps for the capture of Grapholita molesta (Busck), in pome and stone fruit orchards treated with sex pheromone dispensers for mating disruption. The Ajar is a delta‐shaped trap with a screened jar filled with an aqueous terpinyl acetate plus brown sugar bait solution (TAS) that opens inside the trap and is surrounded by a sticky liner. The TAS‐baited Ajar trap was evaluated with and without the addition of a sex pheromone lure and compared with a delta trap baited with a sex pheromone lure and a bucket trap filled with the TAS bait. Although the Ajar trap had a 90% lower evaporation of the TAS bait than the bucket trap, both of them caught similar numbers in the majority of the field tests of both sexes of G. molesta. The addition of the sex pheromone lure did not increase moth catches by the TAS‐baited Ajar trap. The TAS‐baited Ajar trap caught significantly greater numbers of moths than the sex pheromone‐baited delta trap in 18 of the 20 orchards. Few hymenopterans were caught in orange TAS‐baited Ajar traps, but the catch of flies and other moths relative to the target pest remained high. Flight tunnel and field tests evaluated the effect of several screen designs on the catches of G. molesta and non‐target species. All exclusion devices significantly reduced the catch of larger moths. However, designs that did not reduce the catch of male G. molesta did not reduce the catch of muscid flies. Exclusion devices with openings <7.0 mm significantly reduced the catch of female G. molesta. The addition of (E)‐β‐farnesene, (E)‐β‐ocimene or butyl hexanoate septa lures to TAS‐baited Ajar traps significantly increased total moth catch. The addition of (E)‐β‐ocimene also significantly increased female moth catch.     

世界性害虫葡萄花翅小卷蛾入侵我国的风险分析

【目的】葡萄花翅小卷蛾是我国禁止进境的检疫性害虫,一旦入侵我国,将会给葡萄产业和林果业造成严重损失。开展葡萄花翅小卷蛾入侵我国的风险分析可为该虫的检疫和预警提供依据。【方法】介绍了葡萄花翅小卷蛾的形态特征和生物学特性,并参照通用的有害生物风险评估方法,从该虫在国内外的发生情况、潜在的经济危害性、受害作物的经济重要性、传播扩散的可能性及风险管理的难度等方面,对其入侵风险进行了定性和定量分析。【结果】葡萄花翅小卷蛾是一种对我国有很大潜在威胁的有害生物,其风险值为2.14,属高度危险性有害生物。【结论】建议新疆等口岸比较多的省、自治区口岸检疫部门加强对该害虫的检疫力度,杜绝其传入我国。     

Efficacy of some biorational insecticides against Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) under laboratory and greenhouse conditions in Kuwait

The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta, is one of the most destructive pests of tomato worldwide. Management of the pest is mainly based on chemical insecticides. Reliance on insecticides is difficult to sustain because of unintended long‐term adverse effects on the environment and human health. Consequently, there is a need to develop pest management strategies that ensure the production of high‐quality products, while at the same time ensuring environmental sustainability and maximum consumer protection. We evaluated the efficacy the biopesticides: Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis, Steinernema feltiae and Beauveria bassiana individually and in combination against T. absoluta under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. When second instar larvae were exposed to tomato leaf discs treated with Azadirachtin (3 g / L), B. thuringiensis (0.5 g/L) or B. bassiana (1.5 g/L), 70%–86%, 55%–65%, and 45.5%–58.5% mortality was observed, respectively. Steinernema feltiae (1,000 IJs/ml) was the least effective biopesticide, with 26%–42% mortality. In the greenhouse trials on tomato, pest infestation (mines/10 leaves/plant) and fruits damaged were significantly lower on plants treated with Azadirachtin  +  B. thuringiensis or Azadirachtin  +  B. bassiana compared to plants treated with Azadirachtin, B. thuringiensi, B. bassiana or S. feltiae alone. Azadirachtin  +  B. thuringiensis and Azadirachtin  +  B. bassiana resulted in 90% and 81% reduction in fruits damaged in the summer experiments, respectively, and 96% and 91% in winter. The most severe pest infestation was observed on plants treated with S. feltia. The results indicate that the biopesticides, except S. feltia, can contribute to T. absoluta control in greenhouse tomato crops. In particular, the combined use of Azadirachtin with B. thuringiensis or B. bassiana provided the highest level of control of the pest. The potential for including these biopesticides in an overall sustainable integrated pest management programme for T. absoluta is discussed.     

Effect of light colours and weather conditions on captures of Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) and Nilaparvata lugens (Stål)

To study the phototactic responses of white‐backed planthopper, Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) and brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) to different wavelengths, four colours of light traps (blue, green, yellow and red light‐emitting diodes) were placed in the same rice field along with a traditional black light trap. This study revealed that S. furcifera and N. lugens are more attracted to blue and green lights than that to yellow and red lights. During the 24 nights, compared with the black light trap, the blue LED trap could catch more rice planthoppers at 17 nights. Furthermore, catches of other species (moths and beetles) were substantially reduced in blue LED light traps. Multiple regression models were developed to assess the effect of weather factors on light trap catches of rice planthoppers. Rainfall and mean air temperature at a night mainly affected light trap catches of S. furcifera. Higher rainfall and lower temperature increased light trap catches of S. furcifera. However, wind speed was the main factor affecting the catches of N. lugens, and the lower incidence of catches was found in the night when wind speed exceeded 3.08 m/s. S. furcifera may be flying against wind at light wind nights by 0.3–1.5 m/s, whereas N. lugens may be flying down at strong wind nights by 1.5–3.08 m/s. Relative humidity did not significantly influence on trap catches. Consequently, light wavelengths, precipitation, average temperature and wind should be considered when monitoring rice planthoppers by light traps. Therefore, the blue LED light traps are worth using for monitoring planthoppers.     

Cold hardiness of diapausing and non-diapausing pupae of the European grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana

Lobesia botrana (Denis & Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a key pest of grapes in Europe. It overwinters as a pupa in the bark crevices of the plant. Supercooling point (SCP) and low temperature survival was investigated in the laboratory and was determined using a cool bath and a 1 °C min^?1 cooling rate. Freezing was fatal both to diapausing and non‐diapausing pupae. SCP was significantly lower in diapausing male (?24.8 °C) and female (?24.5 °C) pupae than in non‐diapausing ones (?22.7 and ?22.5 °C, respectively). Sex had no influence on SCP both for diapausing and non‐diapausing pupae. Supercooling was also not affected by acclimation. However, acclimation did improve survival of diapausing pupae at temperatures above the SCP. Survival increased as acclimation period increased and the influence was more profound at the lower temperatures examined. Diapausing pupae could withstand lower temperatures than non‐diapausing ones and lethal temperature was significantly lower than for non‐diapausing pupae. Freezing injury above the SCP has been well documented for both physiological stages of L. botrana pupae. Our findings suggest a diapause‐related cold hardiness for L. botrana and given its cold hardiness ability, winter mortality due to low temperatures is not expected to occur, especially in southern Europe.     

Identification and field evaluation of (E)‐11,13‐tetradecadienal as sex pheromone of the strawberry tortrix (Acleris comariana)

The strawberry tortrix (Acleris comariana Lienig and Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a major pest of strawberry in Denmark and southern Sweden. Chemical and electrophysiological analyses revealed a single compound, (E)‐11,13‐tetradecadienal (E11,13‐14:Ald), in gland extracts of females eliciting a strong antennal response in conspecific males. Also (Z)‐11,13‐tetradecadienal (Z11,13‐14:Ald) was found to be antennally active, but not detected in gland extracts. The corresponding alcohol and acetate of E11,13‐14:Ald, which are biologically active in other Acleris species, were not produced by females and did not trigger electrophysiological response in males. Trapping experiments at a commercial strawberry farm in southern Sweden showed that E11,13‐14:Ald and Z11,13‐14:Ald, alone or in combination, attracted large numbers of males. Trap catches increased with increasing dose of E11,13‐14:Ald, with traps baited with 100 µg and 1,000 µg being most attractive. Our results confirm the widespread use of E11,13‐14:Ald as a key sex pheromone component in the genus Acleris. The identification of a highly attractive sex pheromone is a first step in developing pheromone‐based methods for monitoring and control of A. comariana in European strawberry production.     

Relative performance of European grapevine moth (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lobesia botrana</Emphasis>) on grapes and other hosts

The European grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana is a major grapevine pest, but despite the abundance of vineyards it is a generalist and uses either grapes or alternative species. Given the abundance and predictability of grape, L. botrana could be expected to have evolved towards monophagy. In order to understand why this species remains polyphagous, we hypothesized that larvae reared on rare wild host plants should have higher fitness than those reared on the more abundant grape host. For this, we compared larval performance and several life history traits on three alternative host plants (Daphne gnidium, Olea europaea, Tanacetum vulgare) and three Vitaceae (Vitis vinifera), two cultivars and one wild species (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata), and two control groups raised on either a low or a high nutritive value medium. Alternative hosts are more suitable than Vitaceae for the reproductive performance of L. botrana: larval mortality and development time was reduced, while pupal weight, growth rate, female longevity, female fecundity, duration of laying and mating success were increased. High quality food ingested by larvae promotes higher adult body weight and enhances female reproductive output. This suggests that alternative hosts provide greater nutritional value for L. botrana than Vitaceae. The use of alternative host plants could thus be maintained in the host range because they offer L. botrana a better fitness than on the Vitaceae. This could typically represent an advantage for moths behaving in plant diversity grape landscapes.