PHEROMONE CONCENTRATION MEASURED WITH ELECTROANTENNOGRAM IN COTTON FIELDS TREATED FOR MATING DISRUPTION OF PECTINOPHORA-GOSSYPIELLA (LEPIDOPTERA, GELECHIIDAE)

A field-portable electroantennogram (EAG) system was used to measure r elative aerial concentrations of formulated pheromone applied to cotto n fields for mating disruption of the pink bollworm, Pectinophora goss ypiella (Saunders). This device uses a novel calibration system to mea sure 3 points in a dose-response curve within 5-8 s. We used this syst em to estimate the aerial concentrations generated by different types of formulation (applied at rates of 3-75 g [AI]/ha) at varying times a fter application and the wind-dependent transport of pheromone from tr eated into untreated fields. Pheromone levels presumed sufficient to c ause behavioral effects were found at distances of up to 100 m from tr eated areas. In a plot (100 by 200 m) where formulation (75 g [AI]/ha) was applied only to the edge, substantial airborne pheromone was meas ured in the interior of the plot. Long-range pheromone transport sugge sts that deployment of disruptant along the border of a held may be a useful strategy for mating disruption. The EAG system provides a rapid method for measuring relative pheromone concentrations in fields trea ted with pheromone formulated for mating disruption. This methodology allows us to compare efficacy and longevity of release from various fo rmulations and to document the spatial distributions of pheromone they generate.