Tortricid moths (Lepidoptera) are known for their outstanding olfaction capabilities that allow them to detect, process, and respond to chemical information emitted by host or non-host plants. Such an ability to filter out odors from the complex mixture to locate their host has allowed researchers and integrated pest management (IPM) practitioners to develop and implement semiochemically-based pest control strategies. The major goal of this study was to evaluate, under field conditions, the response of male and female oriental fruit moth (OFM), codling moth (CM), redbanded leafroller (RBLR) and three lined leafroller (TLLR) to experimental kairomone lures in commercial apple orchards in Massachusetts. My results indicate that (1) addition of benzaldehyde to Megalure® or to TRE2266 significantly increased captures of OFM males but not of CM males, (2) benzaldehyde was a strong male attractant-it was as attractive as Megalure® to OFM males, and (3) TRE2266 attracted significantly more RBLR than any other lure and by adding benzaldehyde it became attractive to TLLR. These findings highlight the opportunity to work with benzaldehyde to develop more efficient semiochemical-based monitoring and control systems for tortricid moths.

No description available.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Entomology / Franklin Arthur / James R. Nechols / The Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella Hubner, is capable of infesting a number of different commodities including a wide variety of grains, nuts and finished stored products. Therefore, control of the Indianmeal moth is especially needed in areas where food is being stored for human consumption. Increased concerns of consumers and producers regarding the impact of conventional insecticides on the environment and on human health has prompted scientists and the agricultural chemical industry to search for insecticides that do not affect mammalian nervous systems and have limited effects on non-target organisms. One group of insecticides with reduced risks is insect growth regulators (IGRs), which are substances that mimic insect hormones essential to normal development and reproduction. Currently methoprene, a juvenile hormone analog, is labeled for direct application to stored grains, as well as a contact insecticide and as an aerosol application inside mills, warehouses, and indoor food storage facilities. Surface treatments and aerosol space applications can be effective ways to treat the interior surfaces and storage areas of warehouses and food processing facilities. There is little recent research with large-scale aerosol applications in storage sites; furthermore, there are no published references in the scientific literature regarding efficacy of using methoprene alone in aerosol form. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to evaluate the use of surface and aerosol applications of methoprene on finished stored-product packaging materials and facilities for the control of P. interpunctella. Results of this research showed that while methoprene has good residual activity, and efficacy is unaffected by temperature, surface applications of methoprene on packaging materials is not as effective for control of P. interpunctella as aerosol applications of methoprene. Aerosol methoprene is highly effective alone and in combination with conventional chemicals for control of eggs and wandering-phase larvae. Simulations with a population growth model make it possible to estimate impact of insecticide treatments at different temperatures and application times on populations of P. interpunctella. Aerosol treatments are also economically viable as part of an overall integrated pest management program.

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), infested fluit were collected in a sprayed, unsprayed and an organic orchard. The time of emergence was monitored to see if there was selection for a delayed emergence caused by different treatments. Moths from fruit collected in the sprayed and unsprayed orchards in Desember 2001, had a peak emergence during January 2002 and a smaller peak during February 2002. Moths from fruit collected during February 2002 from an organic orchard, had a peak emergence during February 2002 and an extended emergence from diapause until January 2003. Moths from fluit collected during March 2002 had a peak emergence during November 2002 with an extended emergence in the sprayed orchards until January 2003. Delayed emergence from diapause was observed. Not all the moths from diapause emerged during the first flight, but overlapped with the second flight in December and January. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kodlingmot, Cydia pomonella (L.), geïnfesteerde vrugte is in 'n onbespuite, chemies behandelde en 'n organiese boord versamel. Die tyd van motuitkoms is gemonitor om te bepaal of verskillende behandelings dalk seleksie in die motpopulasie kan veroorsaak ten op sigte van 'n vertraagde motuitkoms. Motte uit vrugte wat in die gespuite boorde in Desember 2001 versamel is, het 'n piek uitkoms in Januarie en 'n kleiner een in Februarie 2002 gehad. Motte uit die ongespuite boord se vrugte, het ook 'n piek uitkoms in Januarie 2002 getoon. Motte uit vrugte wat in Februarie 2002 in 'n organiese boord versamel is, het 'n piek uitkoms in Februarie 2002 gehad, met 'n verlengde uitkoms vanuit diapause vanaf Oktober 2002 tot Januarie 2003. Motte uit vrugte wat in Maart 2002 versamel is, het 'n piek uitkoms in November 2002 gehad. Daar was ook 'n verlengde motuitkoms vanaf diapause by die chemies behandelde boorde tot Januarie 2003. 'n Vertraagde motuitkoms vanaf diapause is waargeneem. Die motte vanuit diapause maak nie almal deel uit van die eerste vlug nie, maar oorvleuelook met motte van die tweede vlug wat gedurende Desember en Januarie in die veld voorkom.

No description available.

No description available.

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

The Intermountain West is comprised of impressive land formations, numerous ecoregions, and a unique biota. The area has many flora and fauna that have been investigated, but the region is generally considered undersampled when it comes to insects. However, I propose the matter to be a lack of shared experience in identifying key insect species and the underutilization of professional and personal collections. These impediments are highlighted by two insect groups in the Intermountain West: spongillaflies and tiger moths.Spongillaflies can be difficult to recognize for the general entomologist and have rarely been recorded in the Intermountain West. My colleagues and I recently discovered a large population of spongillaflies in Utah that we present as a substantial additional record. I also followed the population throughout the 2016 field season to make natural history observations. I identified the spongillaflies to be Climacia californica and their associated host to be Ephydatia fluviatilis. During the season, a total of 1,731 specimens were collected, light traps were the most effective sampling technique and the population had one mass emergence event. I hope my work and figures will help investigators as they continue to search the area for spongillaflies. Tiger moths on the other hand have largely been collected in the Intermountain West and are easily recognized, generally being brightly colored. Because of these bright colors, they attract collectors and have been sampled heavily throughout the Intermountain West. However, until now, these records have not been utilized and tucked away in collections. We took the vast amount of records and used them to create predicted models of biogeography for each tiger moth species in the area. We successfully created species level ecological niche models (ENM) analyzing environmental variables such as temperature, precipitation, elevation, and vegetation. Overall, I found tiger moths can be collected almost everywhere and during each month of the year with 93 different species scattered across the region. I anticipate our ENM models to help researchers locate tiger moths of interest to investigate within the Intermountain West.During my studies, I investigated in detail the lichen feeding tiger moths (Lithosiini). Many tiger moths eat toxic plants, but only a few in the area consume lichen, an unusual host because of their secondary defensive chemicals. I investigated how these chemicals impacted Cisthene angelus caterpillars host selection by simultaneously offering them various lichens with differing chemistries. I expected these caterpillars to avoid usnic acid as it deterred other lichen feeding tiger moths. However, these caterpillars surprised me by consistently consuming the acid and being largely polyphagous. Our future work will be directed at how caterpillars balance nutritional needs and the chemicals they sequester.

Sunset Iridescence is a one of a kind sculptural bookwork which reflects the essence of the wings of the Madagascar Sunset Moth. My work is very much about the physical qualities of the materials I use. The papers, inks and gilding supplies used to recreate the colors and iridescence of the moth are described. A comparison of color created by pigment and color created by the refraction of light rays is discussed. Parallels are drawn between the structure of the codex and the behavioral patterns of the moths. The local name for the Madagascar Sunset Moth is Lolonandriana - lolo for `spirit or soul,' andriana for `noble.' I was inspired by this concept of the soul to publish a letterpress printed chapbook. Unlike Flying in an Airplane is a short memoir of one of my experiences as a flight nurse. It recalls the first moments of lifting off in a helicopter as I prepared to stabilize and transport a critically ill child.

Two field experiments determined an effective intertrap distance (ITD) for early detection and delimitation sparse gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae, Lymantria dispar L.) populations in mountainous terrain. This study found that current Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service trapping guidelines are not sufficient for early detection of small gypsy moth populations in mountainous terrain. Detection trapping in mountainous terrain should have an ITD of not more than 804 m. Delimiting trapping should use a grid design with an ITD of 152 m. A related study determined natural adult male mortality in the climate of the intermountain West, which includes Utah, Nevada, western Wyoming, and southern Idaho. An interaction was found between mortality, temperature, and humidity. During high temperatures, most mortality occurred on the second day. When lower temperatures prevailed, the largest percent mortality occurred on the third or fourth day.