Behavioral and Electrophysiological Responses of Leafroller Moths to Selected Plant Extracts

• Published in: Environmental entomology 2005-12, Vol.34 (6), p.1426-1432
• Main Authors: Gökçe, A, Stelinski, L. L, Whalon, M. E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Argyrotaenia velutinana; Biological and medical sciences; Biological control; CHEMICAL ECOLOGY; choice bioassay; Choristoneura rosaceana; Control; electroantennography; electrophysiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; insect attractants; insect behavior; leafrollers; olfactometer; olfactometry; oviposition deterrents; physiological response; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; plant extract; plant extracts; Protozoa. Invertebrates
• ISSN: 0046-225X; 1938-2936; 0046-225X
• DOI: 10.1603/0046-225X-34.6.1426

The behavioral and electrophysiological responses of the obliquebanded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris), and the redbanded leafroller, Argyrotaenia velutinana (Walker), to crude extracts of Arctium lappa, Bifora radians, Humulus lupulus, Xanthium strumarium, and Verbascum spp. were studied under laboratory conditions. Plant materials were dried and ground before extraction with methanol. Plant extract residues were mixed in acetone to give 20% (wt:wt) suspensions after evaporation of excess methanol. All five plant extracts elicited significant electroantennogram (EAG) responses from both males and females of each species. EAG responses to X. strumarium were generally the highest for both species. The behavioral responses of male and female obliquebanded leafrollers to the plant extracts were compared with responses to pheromone [(Z)11–14:Ac] and a solvent control. Significantly more male and female obliquebanded leafrollers were attracted to X. strumarium compared with pheromone on filter paper, H. lupulus, Verbascum spp., and the control. Compared with the control, there was no significant attraction to pheromone on filter paper, A. lappa, H. lupulus, and Verbascum spp. The oviposition-deterring effect of plant extracts on female obliquebanded leafrollers was studied in dual-choice bioassays. B. radians elicited the highest oviposition deterring effect with no eggs laid on this treatment. A. lappa was also effective and reduced oviposition to 2.9% of that observed in the controls. The number of eggs laid on X. strumarium (14.4%) and Verbascum spp. (21.2%) treatments were not significantly reduced relative to the control; however, oviposition was reduced by three-fold by these two treatments. The results show that certain crude plant extracts induce behavioral effects on male and female obliquebanded leafrollers. Further studies are needed to determine the active ingredients and their potential use in pest management strategies aimed at managing these pest species in tree fruit production.