Attraction of codling moth males to apple volatiles

Abstract

Abstract The attraction of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella , to apple volatile compounds known to elicit an antennal response was tested both in the field and in a wind tunnel. In the field, ( E )‐β‐farnesene captured male moths. The addition of other apple volatiles, including ( E , E )‐α‐farnesene, linalool, or ( E , E )‐farnesol to ( E )‐β‐farnesene did not significantly augment trap catch. Few females were caught in traps which also caught male moths, but female captures were not significantly different from blank traps. In the wind tunnel, males were attracted to ( E , E )‐farnesol, but not to ( E )‐β‐farnesene. The addition of ( E , E )‐α‐farnesene to ( E )‐β‐farnesene had a synergistic effect on male attraction. The male behavioural sequence elicited by plant volatiles, including upwind flight behaviour, was indistinguishable from the behaviour elicited by sex pheromone.