Moth experience and not plant injury affected female cabbage looper moth (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) orientation to potato plants

Naive mated female cabbage looper moths, Trichoplusia ni Hubner, responded in a flight tunnel to potted potato plants (Solanum tuberosum). Percentages of moths attracted to uninjured potato plants, mechanically-damaged potato plants, and potato plants treated with regurgitant from larvae of the Colo rado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say, were similar, indicating no effect of plant treatment. Attraction of female cabbage looper moths to potato plants was increased following prior contact (experience) by the mo th with a potato plant. This increase in responsiveness to potato plants wi th experienced moths occurred whether the plants were uninjured, mechanical ly damaged, or treated with Colorado potato beetle larval regurgitant. Moth s preconditioned on potato plants treated with regurgitant exhibited simila r rates of attraction to mechanically-damaged plants and to regurgitant-tre ated plants. However, moths preconditioned on mechanically-damaged plants w ere more responsive to mechanically damaged plants compared to regurgitant- treated plants.