EFFECTS OF PHEROMONE DOSE, LURE AGE, AND TRAP DESIGN ON CAPTURE OF MALE PECAN NUT CASEBEARER (LEPIDOPTERA, PYRALIDAE) IN PHEROMONE-BAITED TRAPS

Components of a pheromone-monitoring system for the pecan nut casebear er, Acrobasis nuxvorella Neunzig, were evaluated in pecan orchards in central Texas. In 3 trials, traps baited with 33, 100, and 333 mu g of the single-component pheromone (9E,11Z)-hexadecadienal captured equal number of moths, whereas lower doses captured significantly fewer mot hs. In the 4th trial, significantly fewer moths were captured in traps baited with the 333-mu g dose than the 33- or 100-mu g dose. Grey rub ber septa loaded with 100 mu g of pheromone remained attractive for at least 15 wk in the field during the spring. Also lures field-aged for 30 d revealed no significant change in isomer composition of the pher omone. The addition of several likely insect-produced analogs of the p heromone or impurities in the synthetic pheromone did not significantl y affect trap catch in 2 of the 3 trials. In a 3rd trial, the addition of (9E,11Z)-hexadecadienyl acetate significantly increased trap catch . The Pherocon ICP, Pherocon IC, and Intercept-ii traps captured signi ficantly more moths than Pherocon III Delta traps in 3 of the 4 trials . Of these trap designs, the Intercept-A captured the least number of nontarget insects and was the most convenient to service. The nonstick y Multipher 1 and Unitrap traps captured few moths. Moth phenology as determined by pheromone traps from late April to early June was consis tent with published field data and developmental models. Results indic ate pheromone traps baited with (SE,11Z)-hexadecadienal provide a reli able tool for monitoring flights of the pecan nut casebearer.