Behavioral effects of different attractants on adult male and female oriental fruit moths, Grapholita molesta

BACKGROUND Grapholita molesta (Busck) is a fruit pest worldwide. While sex pheromones-based technology for male attraction has made great progress in the monitoring or mass trapping of G. molesta, the attraction of males alone is not an effective reproductive control strategy. The integration of sex pheromones with female attractants, which have been reported to attract adult females and males, is therefore necessary. To determine a suitable dual-sex attractant for trapping G. molesta, combinations of four attractants [sex pheromones (ph), host-plant volatiles (pp), sugar-acetic acid-ethanol-water solutions (ss), and food lures (fl)] were screened using electroantennograms, wind tunnel experiments, and field trial tests. Various mediums and antioxidants were then added to the selected attractants combination (AC) and examined in the field. RESULTS The responses of G. molesta to attractants differed significantly between the sexes. Increases in male activation behavior and trapping were motivated by ph, while pp and particularly ss increased adult antennae perception. In response to fl alone or together with ph, more male or female individuals were trapped. This indicates that ph, as a sex lure, and fl, as a host lure, may complete male and female attraction. Consequently, this combination is suggested. In the field trials, the additions of 10 mu L of honey and 35% (184.3 mu g) of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol [BTH] (preservatives) to the AC (ph + fl) resulted in moth captures equal to that of a commercial sex pheromones lure. CONCLUSION A dual-sex attractant composed of ph, fl, honey, and BTH is recommended for trapping G. molesta in the field.