CONTROLLED-RELEASE SEX PHEROMONE LURES FOR MONITORING SPRUCE BUDWORM POPULATIONS

1987 ◽  
Vol 119 (4) ◽  
pp. 305-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.J. Sanders ◽  
E.A. Meighen

AbstractFive formulations of the primary sex pheromone components of the spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana [Clem.]) were evaluated as lures for monitoring spruce budworm populations: Biolures (Consep Membranes Inc.), Luretape plastic flakes (Hercon, Healthchem Corp.), polyethylene vials (International Pheromone Systems), hollow fibers (Albany International), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pellets. PVC pellets showed significant loss in attractiveness over the required 6-week period. Also, different batches of PVC pellets had very different rates of pheromone release and attraction; the oldest lures, stored for the longest period, were the most attractive. Luretape caught fewer moths than anticipated from the release-rate data and showed wide variation in catch among individual lures. Fibers were inconsistent. Biolures and polyethylene vials showed the lowest decline in attractiveness over time and the lowest variation in catch among individual lures, but their capture rates were higher than necessary.

1985 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Silk ◽  
L. P. S. Kuenen ◽  
G. C. Lonergan

Disruption of mating and of trap capture of spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), has been accomplished in recent years (reviewed in Silk and Kuenen 1984) by disseminating large quantities of the primary components (synthetic) of the female sex pheromone within a forest environment. These components (E)- and (2)-11-tetradecenal (E/Z11-14:Ald) (Sanders and Weatherston 1976) are emitted by virgin female budworm at a 95/5 E/Z ratio (Silk et al. 1980). Unsaturated aldehydes are expensive, tend to polymerize readily (Dunkelblum et al. 1984), and are susceptible to air oxidation and/or photodegradation in the field environment. Analogues, with increased stability and reduced cost, that duplicate the effects of these pheromone components would therefore be of practical value.


1986 ◽  
Vol 118 (8) ◽  
pp. 797-805 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.M. Ponder ◽  
L.R. Kipp ◽  
C. Bergh ◽  
G.C. Lonergan ◽  
W.D. Seabrook

AbstractFactors influencing spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) mating and mating suppression in an enclosed environment in the laboratory were investigated to develop a quantitative assay suited to statistical analysis. Mating in the absence of the two major components of spruce budworm sex pheromone (control) was not affected by changes in moth population density nor by increasing the experimental duration from 20 to 44 h. The proportions mated increased with an increase in the male:female ratio to 1.5:1 and when the experimental duration was prolonged to 68 h. Using a population density, sex ratio combination of 15:10 (male:female) the proportions of mated females decreased with increasing source concentrations of the two major spruce budworm sex pheromone components (95:5 E/Z-11–14-tetradecenal). This effect was diminished with increases in the population density and with extended test duration. Mating in the presence of pheromone remained lower than controls over all durations tested.


1982 ◽  
Vol 114 (12) ◽  
pp. 1143-1149 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Ross ◽  
W. D. Seabrook ◽  
G. C. Lonergan ◽  
P. Palaniswamy ◽  
B. Ponder

AbstractMale and female laboratory reared spruce budworm moths, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), were placed in cages in a conifer forest, and the surrounding air permeated by each of four blends of the E and Z isomers of the sex pheromone (11-tetradecenal) at two concentrations. Mating suppression of 53–83% was found for each blend tested. At one concentration the four suppressions were similar, while at the other only one was significantly different. Electroantennograms (EAGs) were obtained from male moths for each of six E:Z blends at four concentrations. EAGs were similar for most blends at a given concentration, but tended to be larger than at a blend of 0E:100Z.These results were discussed using a current hypothesis on the ability of males to detect sex pheromone in air containing pockets of different isomeric blends.


1981 ◽  
Vol 113 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Sanders

AbstractRelease rates of synthetic attractant of the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), from a PVC formulation were determined by weight loss. They varied in direct proportion to the initial concentration of the attractant and also with the size of the pellet. Release rates declined by about 50% over the time intervals of 10–40 days and 40–100 days. Initially they were two to three times lower at 10°C than at 21°C, but were far more constant over time at the lower temperature. A pellet weighing 130 mg containing 42 μg of attractant released an estimated .1–1 μg/day, or 4–40 ng/h, which is close to the rate of emission by a calling female (Silk et al. 1980), and field trapping data showed that a lure this size attracted the same number of males as a calling female.


1993 ◽  
Vol 125 (6) ◽  
pp. 1067-1076
Author(s):  
C.J. Sanders

AbstractTraps baited with a 95:5 blend of E:Z-11-tetradecenal, the sex pheromone of the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), were deployed throughout several summers in Ontario to determine what other Lepidoptera were captured that might be confused with the male C. fumiferana. Eight other species of Tortricidae were captured with sufficient frequency to suggest that they were attracted to the traps: Choristoneura conflictana Wlk. (the large aspen tortrix), six species of Acleris, and one Gretchena species. Of these, C. conflictana can easily be confused with C. fumiferana. The evidence suggests that male C. conflictana were not attracted by the pheromone, but blundered into the traps. They are very similar morphologically to male C. fumiferana, but can be differentiated with care.


1971 ◽  
Vol 103 (5) ◽  
pp. 631-637 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Sanders

AbstractA simple and inexpensive olfactometer based on that of Gaston and Shorey (1964) is described for bioassaying the sex pheromone of the eastern spruce budworm. The number of males buzzing (rapidly beating their wings while circling on the substrate) after the introduction of the sample into the airstream of the olfactometer was used as measure of response. Males held under continuous illumination showed maximum response when 2 to 3 days old. Under natural lighting males showed a circadian rhythm, with peak response shortly after dark and a minor peak in mid-morning. Since per cent response under continuous illumination exceeded the maximum response under natural lighting, it is recommended that bioassays be carried out with 2- to 3-day-old males held under continuous illumination.


1983 ◽  
Vol 115 (9) ◽  
pp. 1053-1058 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. Alford ◽  
P. J. Silk ◽  
M. McClure ◽  
C. Gibson ◽  
J. Fitzpatrick

AbstractLaboratory wind tunnel and field observations have demonstrated an important behavioural role of tetradecanal (14:Ald) in the chemical communication system of the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens). A greater number of males initiated upwind flight and continued on to contact the source when 14:Ald was present than with 95/5 E/Z11-tetradecenal (E/Z11-14:Ald) alone. The presence of E11-tetradecen-1-ol acetate (E11-14:Ac) decreased the males' responsiveness to the aldehydes. Its effect appeared to be attenuated, when present at low levels with 95/5 E/Z11-14:Ald, by the presence of 14:Ald, but it is still unclear what effects low levels of E11-14:Ac have on male behaviour.


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