Improving the pheromone lure for diamondback moth

摘要

Pheromone traps have potential to assist with intergrated pest management of diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus)). Trapping experiments were set up in brassica crops in Canterbury and Auckland to test the potential for improving lures for pheromone traps. Catch was improved with higher purity of synthetic lures containing (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate and (Z)-11-hexadecenal and (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol (03:60:10). The initial lures tested caught 7.5 percent of the number of moths caught in traps baited with virgin females. This increased to 20-47 percent using better lures. Coupled gas chromatography and electrophysiology confirmed the presence of three active peaks from the chemicals listed above, plus a fourth unidentified compound. Trapswith improved lures were used in a pilot IPM programme in Pukekohe and will assist brassica growers to minimise insecticide usage.