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Quantitative bioassays for sex pheromone analysis in Spodoptera exempta (Wlk.) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), and laboratory evidence of cross-attraction among three species

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

Syed Khasimuddin  and
Morton C. Lubega
Syed Khasimuddin
Affiliation:
The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
Morton C. Lubega
Affiliation:
The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
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Abstract

The courtship behaviour of male Spodoptera exempta (Wlk.) has been quantified and used as a method of bioassay for the female sex pheromone. Virgin females become attractive to sexually mature males from 72 hr after emergence and henceforth their attractiveness increases gradually until they have mated. Mated females start losing their attractiveness to males gradually after mating and 72–96 hr after mating they cannot produce any courtship response in males. Amongst virgin females, crude pheromone-gland extract and synthetic pheromone compounds, it is the older live females and the crude extract at 0.1 female equivalent that produce highest responses in males. A certain degree of cross-attraction between three coexisting species has been noted, both by using live insects as well as synthetic pheromone compounds of these species under laboratory bioassays. Possible interspecific pheromone-related implications are discussed.

Keywords

Spodoptera exemptainterspecific communicationpheromone bioassayquantitative bioassaycross-attractionreproductive isolation
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 5 , Issue 4 , August 1984 , pp. 325 - 328
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1984

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References

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