Sex pheromone of pear moth, Cydia pyrivora

The sex pheromone of the pear moth, Cydia pyrivora, is (E,E)-8,10-dodecadien-yl acetate. A 5%-addition of the geometric isomers E,Z and Z,Z decreased male attraction in the field, the Z,E isomer had no significant effect. Traps baited with 10 µg E,E on grey rubber septa were attractive throughout the flight period of C. pyrivora. These traps allow specific detection of pear moth, and they are not attractive to its sibling species, codling moth C. pomonella.     

Horizontal Escape of the Novel Tc1-Like Lepidopteran Transposon TCp3.2 into Cydia pomonella Granulovirus

We characterized an insertion mutant of the baculovirus Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV), which contained a transposable element of 3.2 kb. This transposon, termed TCp3.2, has unusually long inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) of 756 bp and encodes a defective gene for a putative transposase. Amino acid sequence comparison of the defective transposase gene revealed a distant relationship to a putative transposon in Caenorhabditis elegans which also shares some similarity of the ITRs. Maximum parsimony analysis of the predicted amino acid sequences of Tc1- and mariner-like transposases available from the GenBank data base grouped TCp3.2 within the superfamily of Tc1-like transposons. DNA hybridization indicated that TCp3.2 originated from the genome of Cydia pomonella, which is the natural host of CpGV, and is present in less than 10 copies in the C. pomonella genome. The transposon TCp3.2 most likely was inserted into the viral genome during infection of host larvae. TCp3.2 and the recently characterized Tc1-like transposon TC14.7 (Jehle et al. 1995), which was also found in a CpGV mutant, represent a new family of transposons found in baculovirus genomes. The occasional horizontal escape of different types of host transposons into baculovirus genomes evokes the question about the possible role of baculoviruses as an interspecies vector in the horizontal transmission of insect transposons. Received: 27 February 1997 / Accepted: 16 May 1997     

Effect of substrate formulation on the efficacy of the pea moth, Cydia nigricana, sex pheromone lures

Field experiments have shown that the activity of (E,E)-8,10-dodecadien-1-yl acetate, the sex pheromone of the pea moth, Cydia nigricana (F.) (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae), is significantly affected by the type of rubber substrate used for the preparation of dispensers. Rubber substrates cured with elemental sulphur or accelerators based on organic sulphur compounds isomerized pea moth pheromone faster than rubber substrates cured by organic peroxides. The degree of isomerization increased during field use and/or storage. Average catches of males were further dependent on the release rate of pheromone from the dispenser. In a 2×3 factorial experiment arranged in 6×6 Latin square design a statistically highly significant dispenser x dose interaction was demonstrated (P<0.01).

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Résumé Dans la nature, l'action de (E,E)-8,10-dodécadien-1-yl-acétate, phéromone sexuelle de C. nigricana F., est significativement modifiée par le type de caoutchouc utilisé poùr la réalisation du diffuseur. Le caoutchouc vulcanisé du soufre ou avec des accélérateurs à base de composés soufrés isomérise la phéromone sexuelle de C. nigricana plus rapidement que le caoutchouc vulcanisé avec des péroxydes organiques. Le taux d'isomérisation augmente pendant l'utilisation dans la nature et/ou pendant le stockage. Les captures moyennes de mâles dépendent avant tout de la libération de la phéromone par le diffuseur. Une étude de 2×3 facteurs organisée en carré latin (6×6) a mis en évidence une interaction hautement significative entre diffuseur et dose (P<0,01).

     

New method for testing solar sensitivity of commercial formulations of the granulovirus of codling moth (Cydia pomonella, Tortricidae: Lepidoptera)

A method for screening codling moth granulovirus (CpGV) formulation sensitivity to sunlight using specially prepared half apples and a solar simulator is described. The half apple preparation allows an even coverage of virus over the surface of the fruit that would not be possible using whole apples. Leaves and artificial medium were not usable for extended periods of exposure in the solar simulator due to excess drying. Fruit was sprayed with 10⁻³ and 10⁻⁵ dilutions of three commercial formulations of CpGV (Carpovirusine, Cyd-X, and Virosoft) and infested with codling moth neonates. Half of the sprayed fruit was exposed to 650 W/m² for 4 h in an Atlas Suntest CPS solar simulator resulting in an accumulated radiant energy of 9.36 × 10⁶ J/m² before they were infested with neonate codling moth larvae. Spraying non-irradiated fruit with the 10⁻³ dilution of Cyd-X and Virosoft resulted in nearly 100% mortality of neonate larvae. Irradiation reduced viral activity by 71-98% at the 10⁻³ dilution and by up to 32% at the 10⁻⁵ dilution relative to non-irradiated fruit. The procedures utilized enabled good preservation of the fruit throughout the incubation period and minimized invasion of the fruit by plant pathogens and saprophytic organisms. This laboratory method for screening candidate formulations and potential UV protectants could conserve time and resources by eliminating adjuvants with less potential in laboratory tests and field testing only the most promising candidates. It also enables year-round testing.     

Incidence and transmission of a granulovirus in a large codling moth [Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)] rearing facility

Incidences of potential per os Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV) transmission within a large codling moth colony were identified. CpGV was detected in the water which is used to wash egg sheets. When pre-neonates were extracted from eggs prior to emergence and tested for the presence of CpGV, 40% were found to carry amounts of CpGV detectable by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, suggesting possible transovarial transmission of the virus. Although symptoms typical of virus infection and larval death were found infrequently within communal rearing trays, the frequency with which CpGV DNA was detected by PCR assays increased from a mean of 31% of 10-day-old larvae to 94% of 25-day-old larvae. CpGV in codling moth cadavers remained virulent after being held at 60 degrees C for 3 days under conditions similar to the treatment of spent diet at the rearing facility before its disposal. PCR tests of surface samples taken from air filters and rearing rooms of the rearing facility were found to contain CpGV. Bioassays of surface samples from the diet trash bin and a filter through which outside air is passed before entering the rearing chambers resulted in significant codling moth neonate mortality. The virulence of CpGV in dust from the spent diet and the original inadvertent positioning of the diet trash bin directly below one of the air intake ducts are suggested as a possible additional source of CpGV contamination within the facility.     

The influence of hosts, temperature and food sources on the longevity of Trichogramma platneri

Feeding experiments were conducted with Trichogramma platneri Nagarkatti (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) reared from the Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella (Oliver) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). T. platneri provisioned with host eggs do not live any longer than T. platneri without host eggs. Longevity of T. platneri is inversely related to temperature declining from 53 days at 10 °C to 3 days at 35 °C for honey-fed parasitoids and from 9 days at 10 °C to 1 day at 35 °C for unfed parasitoids. Sugar sources are necessary to prolong longevity of T. platneri, but a source of amino acid did not promote longevity. Honey solutions greater than 10%, and 43% fructose and sucrose solutions increased longevity 10–13 fold to 15–20 days in comparison to water when fed daily to T. platneri. Parasitoids fed only at the onset of the trial had greater longevity than unfed parasitoids but had a shorter longevity than parasitoids fed daily, due to the evaporation of the sugar solutions and consumption of the honey. Aphid honeydew is a suitable field-available sugar source supporting longevity up to 10 days, but is not as good as other sugar sources. Stabilizing additives did not reduce evaporation of a dilute sugar solution nor prolong longevity of T. platneri. Simulating a daily dew fall by misting vials, to redissolve the crystallized food residues left after providing food at the onset of the trial, failed to increase parasitoid longevity.     

SEX PHEROMONE OF THE FEMALE MOTHS CYDIA TRASIAS MEYRICK: IDENTIFICATION OF AN ACTIVE COMPONENT AND FIELD TRIALS*

Abstract An active component of the female sex pheromone of Chinese locust moth, Cydia Trash Meyrick, was identified as (E, E)-8, 10-dodecadienyl acetate (E8, E10–12:Ac) by GC, GC—MS analyses and microchemical reactions. The results of field trials showed that synthetic E8, E10—-12: Ac was very attractive to the male moths.     

Improved monitoring of oriental fruit moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) with terpinyl acetate plus acetic acid membrane lures

Male and female moth catches of Grapholita molesta (Busck) in traps were evaluated in stone and pome fruit orchards untreated or treated with sex pheromones for mating disruption in Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, USA, and Italy from 2015 to 2017. Trials evaluated various blends loaded into either membrane cup lures or septa. Membrane lures were loaded with terpinyl acetate (TA), acetic acid (AA) and (Z)‐3‐hexenyl acetate alone or in combinations. Two septa lures were loaded with either the three‐component sex pheromone blend for G. molesta alone or in combination with codlemone (2‐PH), the sex pheromone of Cydia pomonella (L). A third septum lure included the combination sex pheromone blend plus pear ester, (E,Z)‐2,4‐ethyl decadienoate (2‐PH/PE), and a fourth septum was loaded with only β‐ocimene. Results were consistent across geographical areas showing that the addition of β‐ocimene or (Z)‐3‐hexenyl acetate did not increase moth catches. The addition of pear ester to the sex pheromone lure marginally increased moth catches. The use of TA and AA together significantly increased moth catches compared with the use of only one of the two components. Traps with the TA/AA lure outperformed the Ajar trap baited with a liquid TA plus sugar bait. The emission rate of AA was not a significant factor affecting the performance of the TA/AA lure. The addition of TA/AA significantly increased moth catches when combined with the 2‐PH lure. The TA/AA lure also allowed traps to catch both sexes. Catch of C. pomonella with the 2‐PH lure was comparable to the use of codlemone; however, moth catch was significantly reduced with the 2‐PH/PE lure. Optimization of these complex lures can likely further improve managers’ ability to monitor G. molesta and help to develop multispecies tortricid lures for use in individual traps.     

Production and storage of diapausing codling moth larvae

The rearing and production of diapausing codling moth (Cydia pomonella (L.) [Lepidoptera: Olethreutidae]) larvae for use in research programmes is outlined. Diapause was induced under conditions of complete darkness or under photoperiods of up to 15 h. Diapausing larvae were stored for over 2 years in the laboratory but greatest survival occurred when the storage time was one year or less. The recommended conditions for the induction of diapause are a 12 h photoperiod, 25°C and 55–65% r.h.

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Résumé Cet article porte sur les aspects principaux de l'élevage et de la production de chenilles diapaussantes de Cydia pomonella L. (Lep. Olethreutidae) pour des travaux de recherche. La diapause a été induite sous obscurité totale ou photophases inférieures à 15 heures. Des chenilles diapausantes ont été conservées en laboratoire jusqu'à deux ans, mais la survie pendant la première année était supérieure. Les conditions recommandées pour l'induction de la diapause sont une photophase de 12 heures, 25°C et 55–65 h.r.