Trapping fall armyworm (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) adults in traps baited with pheromone and a synthetic floral volatile compound

Field experiments were conducted to determine the effectiveness of the flor al compound phenylacetaldehyde in increasing capture of fall armyworm, Spod optera frugiperda, males in pheromone-baited traps. Plastic Unitraps were p laced in cotton and corn fields in north-central. Florida and were baited w ith commercial sex pheromone and synthetic phenylacetaldehyde released from hollow polyethylene stoppers and glass microcapillary pipets. Addition of phenylacetaldehyde as a lure was not effective in collecting more moths and actually reduced numbers of moths captured compared to pheromone-baited tr aps. Nontarget Hymenoptera were also collected in traps; more Sphecoidea we re found in phenylacetaldehyde-baited traps compared to pheromone-baited tr aps.