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J. C. Bergh - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • food finding capability of grape root borer lepidoptera Sesiidae neonates in soil column bioassays
    Journal of Entomological Science, 2016
    Co-Authors: Jhalendra P Rijal, J. C. Bergh
    Abstract:

    Abstract  Grape root borer, Vitacea polistiformis (Harris), is an economically important and potentially destructive pest of grape vines in portions of the eastern United States. Its oligophagous larvae feed on the roots of cultivated and wild Vitis species. In commercial vineyards, adult females oviposit on aboveground parts of vines and other vegetation in vine rows. The loosely attached eggs are thought to drop to the ground and, upon eclosion, neonates quickly burrow into the soil to search for grape roots. Although vineyard infestation by grape root borer is ultimately dependent upon larval success at finding and establishing on vine roots, little is known about larval movement capabilities in the soil. In this study, soil column bioassays were used to evaluate neonate movement in the horizontal and vertical dimensions, the influence of grape root stimuli on the rate and frequency of food-finding, and the distance over which the neonates responded to these stimuli. Grape root borer neonates moved bot...

  • spatial distribution of grape root borer lepidoptera Sesiidae infestations in virginia vineyards and implications for sampling
    Environmental Entomology, 2014
    Co-Authors: Jhalendra P Rijal, Carlyle C Brewster, J. C. Bergh
    Abstract:

    Grape root borer, Vitacea polistiformis (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) is a potentially destructive pest of grape vines, Vitis spp. in the eastern United States. After feeding on grape roots for ≍2 yr in Virginia, larvae pupate beneath the soil surface around the vine base. Adults emerge during July and August, leaving empty pupal exuviae on or protruding from the soil. Weekly collections of pupal exuviae from an ≍1-m-diameter weed-free zone around the base of a grid of sample vines in Virginia vineyards were conducted in July and August, 2008-2012, and their distribution was characterized using both nonspatial (dispersion) and spatial techniques. Taylor's power law showed a significant aggregation of pupal exuviae, based on data from 19 vineyard blocks. Combined use of geostatistical and Spatial Analysis by Distance IndicEs methods indicated evidence of an aggregated pupal exuviae distribution pattern in seven of the nine blocks used for those analyses. Grape root borer pupal exuviae exhibited spatial dependency within a mean distance of 8.8 m, based on the range values of best-fitted variograms. Interpolated and clustering index-based infestation distribution maps were developed to show the spatial pattern of the insect within the vineyard blocks. The temporal distribution of pupal exuviae showed that the majority of moths emerged during the 3-wk period spanning the third week of July and the first week of August. The spatial distribution of grape root borer pupal exuviae was used in combination with temporal moth emergence patterns to develop a quantitative and efficient sampling scheme to assess infestations.

  • behavioral response of grape root borer lepidoptera Sesiidae neonates to grape root volatiles
    Environmental Entomology, 2013
    Co-Authors: Jhalendra P Rijal, Aijun Zhang, J. C. Bergh
    Abstract:

    Grape root borer, Vitacea polistiformis (Harris), is an oligophagous and potentially destructive pest of grape in commercial vineyards throughout much of the eastern United States. Larvae feed on vine roots, although little is known about their below-ground interactions with host plants. The behavioral response of groups of grape root borer neonates to stimuli from host and nonhost roots was evaluated in single and paired stimuli bioassays in which stimuli were presented in opposing wells attached to the bottom of petri dish arenas. Stimulus sources included root pieces and root headspace volatiles from 3309 and 420-A grape rootstocks (host) and apple (nonhost) and ethanol-based extracts of 3309 and 420-A roots. In single stimulus assays, significantly more larvae were recovered from wells containing grape roots, apple roots, grape extracts, and grape root volatiles than from control wells, but there was no significant response to volatiles collected from the headspace of apple roots. In paired stimuli assays, significantly more larvae were recovered from wells containing grape than apple roots. There was no difference in larval distribution between wells when 420-A and 3309 roots were presented simultaneously, although a significantly greater response to 3309 than 420-A root extract was recorded. When soil was added to the assays, significantly more larvae were recovered from wells containing grape roots than from those containing only soil, but this response was not detected in assays using buried apple roots. These results are discussed in relation to the plant-insect interactions between grape root borer larvae and their Vitaceae hosts.

  • response of grape root borer lepidoptera Sesiidae neonates to root extracts from vitaceae species and rootstocks
    Environmental Entomology, 2011
    Co-Authors: J. C. Bergh, Aijun Zhang, John R Meyer, D Kim
    Abstract:

    Observations at regular intervals of the location of newly hatched grape root borer, Vitacea polistiformis (Harris), larvae moving freely within circular petri dish bioassays were used to measure and compare their response to dry filter paper discs treated with ethanol- or hexane-based extracts of roots from known and potential Vitaceae hosts and a nonhost. Larvae responded most strongly to discs treated with ethanol extracts, suggesting the presence of behaviorally active, polar compounds associated with roots. In single extract bioassays comparing extract versus solvent treated discs, larvae responded positively to ethanol extracts from all Vitis species and rootstocks and Virginia creeper [Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch.], but not to apple (Malus domestica Borkh). Paired extract bioassays, in which an extract from the commercially important 3309 rootstock was used as the standard and presented simultaneously with extracts from other root sources, revealed examples of equal, significantly weaker and significantly stronger responses to the 3309 extract. Extracts of the 420 A and V. riparia ‘Gloire’ rootstocks appeared to possess qualities that elicited a consistently greater response than to 3309 extract in these pair-wise comparisons. The active compounds were eluted in ethanol during a 30-min extraction; larvae responded equally to 30- and 60-min 3309 root extracts in paired extract bioassays. Larvae responded equally to extracts of 3309 roots from three spatially separate vineyards in northern Virginia. These results are discussed in relation to the subterranean, plant-insect interactions of grape root borer neonates with the numerous native and non-native Vitis species that may serve as hosts in the eastern United States.

  • morphological characterization of antennal sensilla of the dogwood borer lepidoptera Sesiidae
    Annals of The Entomological Society of America, 2010
    Co-Authors: Daniel L. Frank, Tracy C. Leskey, J. C. Bergh
    Abstract:

    The external morphology of the dogwood borer, Synanthedon scitula (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), antennae and their sensilla was investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy. Male and female antennae were clavate before tapering to an apical point and consisted of three main segments; scape, pedicel, and flagellum. Although there was no significant difference in the length of the flagellum between genders, the number of flagellomeres was significantly greater in females than in males and the length and width of individual flagellomeres was significantly greater in males than in females, except near the proximal and distal end of the antennae. The antennal flagellum of both male and female dogwood borer contained seven sensillum types: auricillica, basiconica, chaetica, coeloconica, squamiformia, styloconica, and trichoidea (three subtypes). The mean number of sensilla basiconica did not differ between female and male antennae, but all other sensillum types were significantly more abundant on female antennae. The morphology and purported function of each sensillum type are discussed in relation to the host and oviposition site finding and acceptance behaviors exhibited by dogwood borer.

R W Mankin - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • subterranean acoustic activity patterns of vitacea polistiformis lepidoptera Sesiidae in relation to abiotic and biotic factors
    Insects, 2019
    Co-Authors: Edidiong I Inyang, Raymond L Hix, Violeta Tsolova, Barukh Rohde, Omotola G Dosunmu, R W Mankin
    Abstract:

    Grape root borer (GRB), Vitacea polistiformis, is a root-feeding pest of grapevines in the US southeast that causes underground damage well before vines show visible symptoms. A 269-d study was conducted at 31 sites in a Florida vineyard to record short bursts of insect movement and feeding vibrations in grapevine root systems and provide information that can improve timing and targeting of GRB management efforts. Characteristic spectral and temporal patterns in the subterranean vibrations facilitated discrimination of GRB from background noise and non-targeted arthropods. Infestation likelihood of GRB at each site was estimated from previous studies relating infestation to burst rate. In all, 39% of recordings indicated low infestation likelihood. Sites with medium or high infestation likelihood were confined to a small region of the vineyard where a vine with larval feeding damage was confirmed. The restricted area suggests that the biological control or chemical treatments could be reduced elsewhere. Acoustic activity was significantly greater in fall and winter than in spring, and greater in evening than afternoon; fall evenings seemed best for GRB acoustic surveys. The GRB seasonal and circadian acoustic variation reflected phenological variation in grape root growth and nutrients and was not significantly correlated with temperature.

  • acoustic detection of arthropod infestation of grape roots scouting for grape root borer lepidoptera Sesiidae
    Florida Entomologist, 2011
    Co-Authors: William R Sanders, Oscar E Liburd, R W Mankin, Lukasz L Stelinski
    Abstract:

    ABSTRACT The grape root borer, Vitacea polistiformis Harris, is the principal pest of grapes (Vitis spp. L.) in Florida where chlorpyrifos is 1 of the few chemicals registered for its control. However, chlorpyrifos is not an ideal treatment because it is highly toxic to birds, fish, aquatic invertebrates, and honeybees. Also, the recommended timing of application conflicts with harvest dates. There is an effective cultural control method, known as mounding, but this method is currently cost prohibitive for commercial production and is not widely used. If mounding could be applied only to infested plants, the cost of this method would be reduced considerably. This study evaluated the potential of acoustics for detecting the larvae in-situ. Human listeners assessed likelihood of arthropod infestation for each site based on live acoustic samples as they were being recorded. Computer software later constructed acoustic indicators from these recordings that were used for computer assessment of infestation like...

  • applications and mechanisms of wax based semiochemical dispenser technology for disruption of grape root borer mating
    Journal of Economic Entomology, 2011
    Co-Authors: William R Sanders, Oscar E Liburd, R W Mankin, Wendy L Meyer, Lukasz L Stelinski
    Abstract:

    ABSTRACT Grape root borer, Vitacea polistiformis (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), is an important pest of cultivated grapes (Vitis spp.) in the eastern United States from Michigan to Florida. There are few registered insecticides for control of this pest, and their efficacy is limited. Pheromone-based mating disruption is a potential alternative to insecticides for management of V. polistiformis. Wax-based Specialized Pheromone & Lure Application Technology (SPLAT) was tested as a mating disruption method. Deployment densities of 150 dispensers per ha dosed with 5 mg of V. polistiformis pheromone were sufficient to achieve 95% mating disruption during a 7-wk trapping period. The disruption mechanism was determined to be competitive attraction. The release rate of pheromone from these dispensers was quantified to be approximately linear, 77.4 µg/g SPLAT/d. At this release rate, a minimum initial load of 5.4 mg of pheromone per dispenser would be needed to maintain disruption over a 9-10-wk V. polistiformi...

Yutaka Arita - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

Vidmantas Karalius - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • inter and intraspecific activities of compounds derived from sex pheromone glands of currant borer synanthedon tipuliformis clerck lepidoptera Sesiidae
    Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C, 2006
    Co-Authors: Raimondas Mozuraitis, Vidmantas Karalius, Vincas Buda, Annakarin Borgkarlson
    Abstract:

    Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analyses of crude sex pheromone gland extracts revealed that virgin Synanthedon tipuliformis (Clerck), currant borer (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) females, produced 6 compounds, structurally related to sex pheromone components of clearwing moths. By comparison of retention times and mass spectra of natural products with corresponding properties of synthetic standards, these compounds were identified as: (2E,13Z)-octadeca-2,13-dien-1-yl acetate (E2,Z13-18:OAC), (3E,13Z)-octadeca-3,13-dien-1-yl acetate (E3,Z13-18:OAc), (13Z)-octadec-13-en-1-yl acetate (Z13-18:OAc), (2E,13Z)-octa-deca-2,13-dien-1-ol (E2,Z13-18:OH), (13Z)-octadec-13-en-1-ol (Z13-18:OH) and octadecan-1-ol (18:OH) in the ratio 100:0.7:2.7:3.2:traces:traces. The first 3 compounds were previously known to occur in the sex pheromone gland extracts of currant borers, while the last 3 chemicals are now reported for the first time. Trapping tests carried out in the black currant field revealed that E2,Z13-18:OAc, when tested separately, attracted S. tipuliformis males, while addition of E3,Z13-18:OAc to the main component increased the effectiveness of E2,Z13-18:OAc over seven times. The attractiveness of 6 component lures did not differ significantly from the one of the binary mixture, confirming that E2,Z13-18:OAc and E3,Z13-18:OAc in the ratio100:0.7 are essential sex pheromone components of S. tipuliformis. Trapping tests carried out at the dwelling place of Synanthedon scoliaeformis (Borkhausen) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) revealed that, in addition to intraspecific synergistic effect, E3,Z13-18:OAc increased the specificity of the pheromone signal of S. tipuliformis, acting by intraspecific mode as an attraction antagonist against S. scoliaeformis males. By this way, it ensured the specificity of the sex attraction signal of the currant borer. Consequently, both compounds E2,Z13-18:OAc and E3,Z13-18:OAc have to be present in pheromone formulations used for monitoring and/or control of S. tipuliformis to avoid effecting non-target species. Other compounds identified from the sex pheromone gland of S. tipuliformis did not show any significant interspecific activity for males of S. scoliaeformis, however, they provide a basis to achieve specificity of a pheromone signal of S. tipuliformis and could act as attraction antagonists against other clearwing moth species which, like S. tipuliformis, employ E2,Z13-18:OAc as their sex pheromone component.

  • sex attractants for clearwing moths synanthedon mesiaeformis herrich schaffer and s flaviventris staudinger lepidoptera Sesiidae
    Acta Zoologica Lituanica, 2006
    Co-Authors: Vidmantas Karalius, Vincas Būda
    Abstract:

    In Vilnius, Kairėnai a field screening test of 2E,13Z-, 3Z,13Z-, 3E,13Z-octadecadien-1-ols and their acetates (2E,13Z-, 3Z,13Z-, 3E,13Z-18:OH/OAc) as well as their binary mixtures was carried out and the attractivity of the mixture of 2E,13Z-18:OAc and 3Z,13Z-18:OAc to Synanthedon mesiaeformis males was determined. The test of the 2-component mixture in five different ratios in Eiciai (Tauragė district) revealed that mixtures containing 2E,13Z-18:OAc/3Z,13Z-18:OAc in the ratio from 9:1 to 5:5 were the most attractive. The mixture of 2E,13Z-18:OAc/3Z,13Z-18:OAc in the ratio from 49:1 to 9:1 attracted males of another clearwing moth species Synanthedon flaviventris. The mixture in the ratio 9:1 is recommended for the simultaneous attraction of the both mentioned clearwing species. To achieve species-specificity, the 2E,13Z-18:OAc/3Z,13Z-18:OAc mixture in the ratio 5:5 is recommended for S. Mesiaeformis, and the mixture of the same compounds in the ratio 49:1 for S. Flaviventris.

  • monitoring of the currant clearwing synanthedon tipuliformis cl lepidoptera Sesiidae by pheromone traps in lithuania
    Acta Zoologica Lituanica, 2003
    Co-Authors: Vidmantas Karalius, Vincas Būda, Raimondas Mozūraitis
    Abstract:

    Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University, Akademijos 2, 2600 Vilnius, Lithuania. E-mail: karalius@ekoi.ltAbstract. The infestation levels by the currant clearwing moth of the black currant fields located indifferent places of Lithuania were determined using cane cutting method in spring-time. Deltoid stickytraps baited with 0.5 mg of E2,Z13-octadecadien-1-yl acetate were used for monitoring the flight ofcurrant clearwing moth. Analysis of 3-year data on the infestation level and the data on trap catches inthe fields (n = 9, 12 and 11) revealed statistically significant correlations between the average number ofcurrant clearwing males caught by pheromone trap during all flight season and: 1) the infestation levelof the black currant field in the spring of the same year (r = 0.70); 2) the absolute number of male mothsin a currant field (r = 0.58); and 3) the infestation level of the currant field in the spring of the next year(r = 0.78). Forecasting of the infestation level in the field in the spring of next year (y) basing on theaverage number of males caught during their flight season (x) was suggested using the regressioncurve y = 0.125x. The tolerance limit of 10% infested currant stems corresponds to the catch of 80males per trap during the flight season.Key words : infestation level, trap catches, correlation and regression study, forecast, black currant pests

  • sex attractants for six clearwing and tineid species lepidoptera Sesiidae and tineidae from kazakhstan and lithuania
    Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C, 2001
    Co-Authors: Vidmantas Karalius, Raimondas Mozuraitis, Vincas Buda, Jan Miatleuski, Povilas Ivinskis
    Abstract:

    Sex attractants for 3 Sesiidae and 3 Tineidae moth species in West-Kazakhstan and Lithuania were discovered by field screening tests of (3Z,13Z)-, (3E,13Z)- and (2E,13Z)-octadecadien-1-ols and their acetates as well as of some binary mixtures of these compounds. Total amount of chemicals was 0.3 mg/dispenser. Males of Synanthedon serica were attracted by a 5:5 mixture of 3E,13Z-18:OAc and 2E,13Z-18:OAc, Chamaesphecia bibioniformis by a 9:1 mixture of 3Z,13Z-18:OAc and 3E,13Z-18:OAc, Paranthrene tabaniformis by a 1:9 mixture of 3Z,13Z-18:OH and 3E,13Z-18:OH, Tinea nonimella by a 1:9 mixture of 3E,13Z-18:OH and 2E,13Z-18:OH, Monopis monachella by a 1:9 mixture of 3Z,13Z-18:OH and 2E,13Z-18:OH, and Nemaxera betulinella by a 9:1 mixture of 2E,13Z-18:OAc and the corresponding alcohol. The periods of attraction to the traps were registered for males of S. serica and Ch. bibioniformis and were found to occur at 15-18 and 15-17 o'clock, local time, respectively.

  • c18 dienes as attractants for eighteen clearwing Sesiidae tineid tineidae and choreutid choreutidae moth species
    Journal of Chemical Ecology, 1993
    Co-Authors: Vincas Būda, Vidmantas Karalius, Povilas Ivinskis, U Maeorg, G H L Rothschild, S Kolonistova, Raimondas Mozūraitis
    Abstract:

    By screening singly and binary mixed 2,13- and 3,13-octadecadien-yl acetates and alcohols (2,13- and 3,13-18: Ac/OH)in Lithuania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and the far east of Russia, sex attractants were discovered for 12 Sesiidae, four Tineidae, and one Choreutidae moth species. Males ofSesia yezoensis andBembecia puella as well asNemapogon flavifrons were attracted by mixture ofZ3,Z13-18:Ac/OH in a ratio of 9∶1,Pyropteron sp. n. by the same mixture (ratio 1∶9),Bembecia romanovi andB. zuwandica byZ3,Z13-18:Ac andE3,Z13-18:Ac (9∶1),Synanthedon caucasicum by the same mixture in the opposite ratio (1∶9),B. scopigera by 23,213-18:Ac andE2,Z13-18:OH in a ratio 9∶1,Synasphecia triannuliformis byZ3,Z13-18:OH andE3,Z13-18:OH (9∶1),Similipepsis takizawai andArchimeessia sp. n. byE3,Z13-18:OH andE2,Z13-18:Ac (1∶1),Prochoreutis sechestediana by a mixture ofE3,Z13-18:Ac plusE2,Z13-18:OH (1∶),Microsphecia brosiformis byE3,Z13-18:Ac,Synanthedon conopiformis by the analogous alcohol,Synanthedon scoliaeformis andNemaxera betulinella byE2,Z13-18:Ac,Triaxomera fulvimitrella byZ3,Z13-18:Ac. An analogous alcohol component is essential for the attraction ofB. ichneumoniformis males. Inhibitors forB. romanovi, B. scopigera andB. zuwandica attraction were discovered. Preliminary data on attractants for six other species as well as on the diurnal rhythm of sexual activity of three species are presented. A new method for the stereoselective synthesis of 3,13–18:Ac/OH andE2,Z13-18:Ac/OH is described.

Aijun Zhang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • behavioral response of grape root borer lepidoptera Sesiidae neonates to grape root volatiles
    Environmental Entomology, 2013
    Co-Authors: Jhalendra P Rijal, Aijun Zhang, J. C. Bergh
    Abstract:

    Grape root borer, Vitacea polistiformis (Harris), is an oligophagous and potentially destructive pest of grape in commercial vineyards throughout much of the eastern United States. Larvae feed on vine roots, although little is known about their below-ground interactions with host plants. The behavioral response of groups of grape root borer neonates to stimuli from host and nonhost roots was evaluated in single and paired stimuli bioassays in which stimuli were presented in opposing wells attached to the bottom of petri dish arenas. Stimulus sources included root pieces and root headspace volatiles from 3309 and 420-A grape rootstocks (host) and apple (nonhost) and ethanol-based extracts of 3309 and 420-A roots. In single stimulus assays, significantly more larvae were recovered from wells containing grape roots, apple roots, grape extracts, and grape root volatiles than from control wells, but there was no significant response to volatiles collected from the headspace of apple roots. In paired stimuli assays, significantly more larvae were recovered from wells containing grape than apple roots. There was no difference in larval distribution between wells when 420-A and 3309 roots were presented simultaneously, although a significantly greater response to 3309 than 420-A root extract was recorded. When soil was added to the assays, significantly more larvae were recovered from wells containing grape roots than from those containing only soil, but this response was not detected in assays using buried apple roots. These results are discussed in relation to the plant-insect interactions between grape root borer larvae and their Vitaceae hosts.

  • response of grape root borer lepidoptera Sesiidae neonates to root extracts from vitaceae species and rootstocks
    Environmental Entomology, 2011
    Co-Authors: J. C. Bergh, Aijun Zhang, John R Meyer, D Kim
    Abstract:

    Observations at regular intervals of the location of newly hatched grape root borer, Vitacea polistiformis (Harris), larvae moving freely within circular petri dish bioassays were used to measure and compare their response to dry filter paper discs treated with ethanol- or hexane-based extracts of roots from known and potential Vitaceae hosts and a nonhost. Larvae responded most strongly to discs treated with ethanol extracts, suggesting the presence of behaviorally active, polar compounds associated with roots. In single extract bioassays comparing extract versus solvent treated discs, larvae responded positively to ethanol extracts from all Vitis species and rootstocks and Virginia creeper [Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch.], but not to apple (Malus domestica Borkh). Paired extract bioassays, in which an extract from the commercially important 3309 rootstock was used as the standard and presented simultaneously with extracts from other root sources, revealed examples of equal, significantly weaker and significantly stronger responses to the 3309 extract. Extracts of the 420 A and V. riparia ‘Gloire’ rootstocks appeared to possess qualities that elicited a consistently greater response than to 3309 extract in these pair-wise comparisons. The active compounds were eluted in ethanol during a 30-min extraction; larvae responded equally to 30- and 60-min 3309 root extracts in paired extract bioassays. Larvae responded equally to extracts of 3309 roots from three spatially separate vineyards in northern Virginia. These results are discussed in relation to the subterranean, plant-insect interactions of grape root borer neonates with the numerous native and non-native Vitis species that may serve as hosts in the eastern United States.

  • dogwood borer lepidoptera Sesiidae abundance and seasonal flight activity in apple orchards urban landscapes and woodlands in five eastern states
    Environmental Entomology, 2009
    Co-Authors: J. C. Bergh, Tracy C. Leskey, David P Kain, James F Walgenbach, W E Klingeman, Aijun Zhang
    Abstract:

    The relative abundance and seasonal flight activity of dogwood borer, Synanthedon scitula Harris (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), was measured using weekly records from traps baited with its sex pheromone and deployed in apple orchards, urban landscapes, and native woodland sites in New York, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee in 2005 and 2006. The mean total number of moths captured per site in apple orchards was 3,146 ± 644 and 3095 ± 584 SE in 2005 and 2006, respectively, exceeding captures at urban sites by 16 and 13 times and at woodland sites by 210 and 206 times in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Mean total captures at urban sites exceeded those in woodland habitats by 13 and 16 times in 2005 and 2006, respectively. The mean duration (wk) of the flight period did not differ significantly between apple orchards (22.6 ± 0.6 SE) and urban sites (20.3 ± 1.2 SE). The onset of flight was somewhat later in New York (around early June) than further south (around early to mid-May), but moth captures continued into October in all states. Captures in apple orchards and at urban sites with higher populations were essentially continuous throughout the flight period, with substantial weekly fluctuations, and tended to show a bimodal pattern with peaks from late May through mid-July and from late August through mid-September. Captures at woodland sites tended to occur predominantly from mid-May through about mid-June and were very sporadic thereafter.

  • evaluation of pheromone based management strategies for dogwood borer lepidoptera Sesiidae in commercial apple orchards
    Journal of Economic Entomology, 2009
    Co-Authors: Tracy C. Leskey, Christopher J Bergh, James F Walgenbach, Aijun Zhang
    Abstract:

    The dogwood borer, Synanthedon scitula (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), is a serious wood-boring pest of apple in eastern North America. The recent identification of its sex pheromone and systematic documentation of the effect of a potent behavioral antagonist affords the opportunity to develop pheromone-based management strategies for this important pest. Here we evaluated the potential of pheromone-based mass trapping of males to reduce dogwood borer infestations and conducted preliminary evaluations of an antagonist-based pheromone blend for disruption of dogwood borer mate finding in commercial apple orchards in North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. In the mass trapping study, treatments included a conventional trunk-drench application of chlorpyrifos, a low-density mass trapping regime of 5 traps/ha, a higher-density mass trapping regime of 20 traps/ha, and an untreated control. We removed large numbers of males from orchards at all locations, with 27,155, 8,418, and 7,281 removed from high-density trapping plots in North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia, respectively, over 2 yr. After 2 yr under each of these treatment regimes, infestation in high- and low-density mass trapping plots was not reduced to the level of chlorpyrifos-treated plots. An antagonist-based dispenser deployed at a rate of 250/ha effectively disrupted mate-finding by male dogwood borer. In plots with mating disruption dispensers, captures in pheromone-baited traps were virtually eliminated, and no males were captured in traps baited with virgin females.

  • diel periodicity of emergence and premating reproductive behaviors of adult dogwood borer lepidoptera Sesiidae
    Environmental Entomology, 2006
    Co-Authors: Christopher J Bergh, Tracy C. Leskey, J M Sousa, Aijun Zhang
    Abstract:

    The emergence and premating reproductive behaviors of adult dogwood borer moths, Synanthedon scitula Harris (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), were examined under controlled conditions in the laboratory and in apple orchards in Virginia. The diel periodicity of male response to pheromone sources was recorded using traps baited with commercial pheromone lures and with a recently identified, trinary blend of dogwood borer sex pheromone components. An earlier study reporting a significant effect of pheromone trap height on the capture of male dogwood borer was revisited, using commercial lures and the new pheromone. Under a 16:8 (L:D)-h photo regimen, the emergence of male and female moths showed a diel periodicity, peaking at 0600 hours. Sexual receptivity of female moths, indicated by the onset of calling behavior, occurred in most individuals on the day after emergence and was observed only during the crepuscular period just before and after sunset. Similarly, the capture of male dogwood borer in traps deployed in July and baited with virgin female moths or pheromone lures coincided with the period of female calling behavior, peaking sharply between 2000 and 2100 hours. When pheromone-baited traps were deployed in September, the peak capture of male dogwood borer occurred earlier, between 1900 and 2000 hours. Traps baited with a commercial lure captured significantly more male dogwood borer at 1.8 m (6 ft), whereas those baited with the trinary dogwood borer sex pheromone captured similar numbers of males at elevations ranging from 1.2 to 2.4 m (4–8 ft). Use of the new dogwood borer sex pheromone has tremendously increased the precision of trapping data and has yielded reliable measurements of the behavior and abundance of male moths that pertain directly to improved monitoring and management capabilities.