Responses of Pseudovadonia livida adults to olfactory and visual cues

Pseudovadonia livida (F.) (Coleoptera Cerambycidae Lepturinae) is a widely distributed and common species across Europe. This study was undertaken to investigate some aspects of the sensory and behavioural ecology of P. livida adults in relation to flowering plants they visit. First, their electroantennogram (EAG) responses to 42 synthetic plant volatile compounds were recorded.The antennae gave the strongest EAG responses to methyl anthranilate, methyl salicylate and 2-phenylethyl alcohol. In a field trapping experiment, P. livida beetles preferred fluorescent yellow and yellow traps over white, blue and transparent traps. When we compared different chemical lures, loaded with EAG-active compounds and their blends, in fluorescent yellow traps, we found that the beetles responded stronger to the two-component blend of methyl anthranilate and 2-phenylethyl alcohol than to other lures tested. In a subsequent experiment testing different ratios of these two compounds, the highest number of P. livida adults was recorded in traps baited with a ratio of 1:1 (100 mg of each compound) of methyl anthranilate and 2-phenylethyl alcohol, followed by traps with the 10:1 ratio. Thus, 1:1 and 10:1 blends of methyl anthranilate and 2-phenylethyl alcohol in fluorescent yellow traps are suitable for detection and monitoring of P. livida

Responses of Pseudovadonia livida adults to olfactory and visual cues

Pseudovadonia livida (F.) (Coleoptera Cerambycidae Lepturinae) is a widely distributed and common species across Europe. This study was undertaken to investigate some aspects of the sensory and behavioural ecology of P. livida adults in relation to flowering plants they visit. First, their electroantennogram (EAG) responses to 42 synthetic plant volatile compounds were recorded.The antennae gave the strongest EAG responses to methyl anthranilate, methyl salicylate and 2-phenylethyl alcohol. In a field trapping experiment, P. livida beetles preferred fluorescent yellow and yellow traps over white, blue and transparent traps. When we compared different chemical lures, loaded with EAG-active compounds and their blends, in fluorescent yellow traps, we found that the beetles responded stronger to the two-component blend of methyl anthranilate and 2-phenylethyl alcohol than to other lures tested. In a subsequent experiment testing different ratios of these two compounds, the highest number of P. livida adults was recorded in traps baited with a ratio of 1:1 (100 mg of each compound) of methyl anthranilate and 2-phenylethyl alcohol, followed by traps with the 10:1 ratio. Thus, 1:1 and 10:1 blends of methyl anthranilate and 2-phenylethyl alcohol in fluorescent yellow traps are suitable for detection and monitoring of P. livida

Seasonal monitoring of the latticed heath, Chiasmia clathrata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) by pheromone traps in two regions of Bulgaria

Monitoring the seasonal flights of the Latticed heath, Chiasmia clathrata (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), was carried out using home made sticky delta traps baited with pheromone caps purchased from CSALOMON® (Plant Protection Institute, Hungary, Budapest). The monitoring was conducted in alfalfa fields in Pazardzhik and Sofia regions in Bulgaria during 2007–2009. The flight of C. clathrata at the investigated sites started at the very beginning of April and lasted until the middle-end of September. Three relatively well-defined peaks, indicating three generations, were recorded in Sofia region. Thus, the flight period and the flight of the separate generations of the pest were defined more accurately than it has been reported earlier. Pheromone baits, products of CSALOMON ® are potent and species specific tools for detecting the presence and seasonal monitoring of C. clathrata

Seasonal flight of the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in three regions in Bulgaria established by pheromone traps

Two-year seasonal monitoring of the flight of Phthorimaea operculella by means of pheromone traps was organized at four sites in three districts in Bulgaria: Sofia, Kyustendil and Plovdiv. Comparison between sticky traps and dry funnel traps has shown that sticky traps were much more effective in capturing of males of this pest than the dry ones. The results of our investigations showed that the pest could appear in the field as early as the end of March and also intensive flight could be observed up to the end of November. Single catches were registered even in January. However, because of overlapping of the generations, their number and periods of moth emergence was not possible to be distinguished by the catches in pheromone traps. Analyses of climatic data (mean air temperature and mean rainfall) indicated that none of the climatic variables investigated strongly affected P. operculella trap catches

Female sex pheromone of Cameraria ohridella Desch and Dim. (Lepidoptera : Gracillariidae): Structure confirmation, synthesis and biological activity of (8E,10Z)-8,10- tetradecadienal and some analogues

Mass spectrometric investigations confirmed the structure of the female produced sex pheromone of the horse-chestnut leafminer Cameraria ohridella Desch. and Dim. to be (8E,10Z)- 8,10-tetradecadienal. Pure samples prepared in a straightforward synthesi

Detection and monitoring of Epicometis hirta Poda and Tropinota squalida Scop. with the same trap

There was no significant difference in the mean catch of Tropinota squalida Scop. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae) in white or blue traps with the floral bait consisting of ( E )-cinnamyl alcohol plus ( E )-anethol (which is the previously optimized floral bait for the closely related scarab Epicometis hirta Poda). Therefore we concluded that both scarabs can be trapped efficiently with the same trap, which could be advantageous from the practical point of view. In seasonal monitoring trials conducted at 8 sites in Europe using blue traps with the floral bait, adult beetles of both T. squalida and E. hirta were successfully detected and their flight pattern was clearly established. At the site in Sicily (Italy) only T. squalida was present, while in Bulgaria, Croatia and Hungary only E. hirta was captured. At a site near Rome (Italy) both scarabs were caught