European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn., Lepidoptera: Crambidae): comparing the performance of a new bisexual lure with that of synthetic sex pheromone in five countries

Abstract

Background: Phenylacetaldehyde is a flower volatile and attractant for among others the European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis. The addition of 4-methoxyphenethyl alcohol has recently been reported to increase O. nubilalis catches four to five times, yielding a bisexual lure for the species.

Results: The bisexual lure significantly outperformed synthetic pheromone lures of O. nubilalis at 11 out of 13 experiments conducted in Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia and Turkey.

Conclusion: The bisexual lure will provide growers with a new and efficient method for detection and monitoring of O. nubilalis. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Keywords: 4-methoxyphenethyl alcohol; bisexual lure; insect trap; moth; pest monitoring; phenylacetaldehyde; synthetic pheromone.