Active spaces of pheromone traps for Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in enclosed environments

Pheromone traps of different types vary considerably in their attractive ranges and trapping efficiency. This report examines physical and behavioral factors that affect the attractive range of pheromone traps for Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) in enclosed areas. The lures in a trap used to target infestations in department stores emitted (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadien-1-ol acetate at approximately equal to 2.3 ng/h, or 10% of typical rates for field-trap lures. Males exhibited flight or wing-fanning responses at distances up to approximately equal to 4 m from the traps, which is in good agreement with predictions of previous pheromone dispersal models. At distances of approximately equal to 0.5 m, the sound pressure level of wing beats (and thus the wing aerodynamic power output) by males responding to pheromone was significantly higher than the sound pressure level of wing beats in the absence of pheromone. Responsiveness to pheromone habituated rapidly after initial exposure (approximately equal to 3 min half-life), and the aerodynamic power output declined quickly to levels measured without pheromone. The habituation response may be reproductively advantageous by allowing moths to conserve energy when a mate is not located quickly. It contributes to the ability of short-range pheromone traps to spatially target infestations of P. interpunctella in department stores by decreasing the attractive ranges from 4 m to 2-3 m within 5-10 min after the moth's initial exposure to pheromone.