Response of male potato stem borer moths,Hydraecia micacea (Esper) to conspecific females and synthetic pheromone blends in the laboratory and field.

Behavior of males ofHydraecia micacea (Esper) responding to virgin females and to synthetic pheromone blends were investigated in a laboratory wind tunnel. The synthetic blend consisted of saturated 14∶Ac (68.9%),Z9-14∶Ac (3.4%),E11-14∶Ac (14.6%), andZ11-14∶Ac (13.1%). Virgin females were significantly better lures than the four-component synthetic blend for most behaviors. By deleting components individually from the four-component blend,Z9-14∶Ac,Z11-14∶Ac, and saturated 14∶Ac were found to be necessary for communication butE11-14∶Ac was found to have no effect on typical pheromone-mediated reproductive behaviors. Close-range studies suggested that chemicals of low volatility, released from moths, were important in eliciting copulation attempts. Field studies reinforced laboratory findings regarding the effectiveness of different lures and indicated thatHeliothis traps were the most effective for monitoring.