An Attracticicle for Control of Amyelois transitella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Almonds

I. Econ Entomol 80: 779-783 (1987) ABSTRACT A wind-tunnel bioassay was used in conjunction with field trapping to determine long-range behavioral response of navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella (Walker), females to almond by-products and to assess potential for developing an attracticide by combining these materials with pyrethroids Crude almond oil (CAO) was 10-fold more effective in attracting navel or angewor m females, on a per -weight basis, than almond presscake (PC); the combination of PC with CAO elicited no greater response than did CAO alone Mummy almonds, which ate those that remain on the tree after harvest, provide the primary sites for oviposition by A. transitella females in the spring, but CAO attracted twice as many females as did larvae-infested mummy almonds and 6 5-fold more than did unintested mummies Upwind-flight response to almond materials seemed to be restricted to gravid females, as these materials evoked no response in either virgin males or virgin females. When CAO was combined with pyrethroids, upwind attraction was not significantly affected by either 0 1 or 0 5% formulations of either per methrin or c~permethrin; however, response was reduced when either of these compounds was present at a 1% level Fenvalerate did not interfere with response to CAO, even at the 1% level Mortality studies of females attracted to a formulation of nonracemic fenvalerate with CAO showed greatest efficacy (90% mortality) when the toxicant was present at a 2 5% concentration