PLANT-CHEMICALS AS ATTRACTANTS FOR HELICOVERPA-ZEA (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE) AND OTHER INSECT SPECIES

Plant chemicals that have been identified and used for monitoring and controlling field populations of insects, including examples of attrac tants for noctuid and other species are reviewed. Methods for obtainin g volatile chemicals from plants are discussed. A number of plant spec ies have been identified as attractive to H. tea and other noctuids by direct observation of insects feeding on field plants or by identific ation of pollen found on body parts of captured insects. In several cl asses, the attractive chemicals in plants were determined to be extrac table by solvents, especially methanol and methylene chloride. Methano l extracts of Gaura spp. flowers captured both sexes of corn earworm m oths in a 1.3. 1.0 ratio(female :male).