A PHEROMONE TRAP FOR DISPERSAL OF THE PATHOGEN ZOOPHTHORA-RADICANS BREFELD - (ZYGOMYCETES, ENTOMOPHTHORALES) AMONGST POPULATIONS OF THE DIAMONDBACK MOTH, PLUTELLA-XYLOSTELLA L (LEPIDOPTERA, YPONOMEUTIDAE)

A sex pheromone trap designed as a novel pathogen delivery system is d escribed. The strategy envisaged for its use is that male Plutella xyl ostella moths attracted to the pheromone enter the trap and are dosed with the fungus Zoophthora radicans. After habituation to the pheromon e, the moths leave the trap and disperse to the crop carrying the fung al inoculum to susceptible larvae, thus initiating or enhancing an epi zootic. A fluorescent marker in the trap was used to demonstrate that moths entered and exited from the trap and carried particles to crop p lants at least 5 m away. As a preliminary study, this work shows the p otential of this strategy for disseminating Z. radicans in populations of P. xylostella. In addition, it could be considered as a model syst em with implications for other pest species where a pheromone and viru lent pathogen are known.