Active spaces of pheromone traps for Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera : Pyralidae) in enclosed environments

Pheromone traps of different types vary considerably in their attractive ra nges and trapping efficiency. This report examines physical and behavioral factors that affect the attractive range of pheromone traps for Plodia inte rpunctella (Hubner) in enclosed areas. The lures in a trap used to target i nfestations in department stores emitted (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadien-1-ol acet ate at approximate to 2.3 ng/h, or 10% of typical rates for field-trap lure s. Males exhibited flight or wing-fanning responses at distances up to appr oximate to 4 m from the traps, which is in good agreement with predictions of previous pheromone dispersal models. At distances of approximate to 0.5 m, the sound pressure level of wing beats (and thus the wing aerodynamic po wer output) by males responding to pheromone was significantly higher than the sound pressure level of wing beats in the absence of pheromone. Respons iveness to pheromone habituated rapidly after initial exposure (approximate to 3 min half-life), and the aerodynamic power output declined quickly to levels measured without pheromone. The habituation response may be reproduc tively advantageous by allowing moths to conserve energy when a mate is not located quickly. It contributes to the ability of short-range pheromone tr aps to spatially target infestations of P. interpunctella in department sto res by decreasing the attractive ranges from 4 m to 2-3 m within 5-10 min a fter the moth's initial exposure to pheromone.