Attraction range of a sex pheromone trap for the damson‐hop aphid Phorodon humuli (Hemiptera: Aphididae). (11th August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Campbell, Colin A. M.; Hardie, Jim; Wadhams, Lester J.
• Is Part Of: Physiological entomology. Volume 42:Number 4(2017)
• Page Start: 389
• Page End: 396
• Publication Date: 2017-08-11
• Subjects: Active space -- anemotaxis -- flight behaviour -- migration -- pheromone trap -- sex pheromone; Insects -- Physiology -- Periodicals; 571.157
• DOI: 10.1111/phen.12211
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0307-6962

Abstract

Abstract: The attraction range of olfactory response by winged female gynoparae (autumn migrants that give birth to oviparae, the sexual females) and male damson–hop aphids Phorodon humuli (Schrank) is investigated in field experiments over 2 years by analyzing the spatial patterns of catches in concentric circles of yellow‐painted traps (60 in total) around a central trap releasing the species' sex pheromone, (1 RS, 7 S, 7a S )‐nepetalactol. Males are more likely than females to be found in the central trap, with 65.6% of the 1824 males caught there compared with 11.2% of 1346 females. Both morphs are more numerous in traps axial with the mean wind direction and centred on the pheromone‐release trap than at other angles. Males are approximately five‐fold more numerous in traps downwind than at similar distances upwind of the pheromone, showing that its presence stimulates landing. For males, the estimated active space of the lure extends 6 m downwind. Catches of females are equally numerous up and downwind of the pheromone lure because females orienting on the axis of the pheromone source continue to respond to visual cues in their flight path if they overshoot the olfactory one. For females, the active space of a pheromone lure is less than 2 m downwind. It is unimportant for either morph whether the pheromone‐release trap is yellow or transparent. In these experiments, both morphs orient with, track and probably arrive in the pheromone source trap from at least 26 m, the distance to the nearest aphid‐infested hops. Abstract : Attraction range of a pheromone lure is used to optimize inter‐trap spacings. Spacing is at least 6 m for male hop aphids and <2 m for gynoparous females. For males, the sex pheromone is a target; for females, it is a beacon.