Athetis dissimilis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is attracted to the sex pheromone of Euzophera batangensis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Abstract

Euzophera batangensis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is one of the troublesome pests in sweet persimmon trees due to the larvae which are feeding under the bark. Athetis dissimilis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was first reported as a pest of summer maize seedlings in Shandong province in 2014. Afterwards, it is rapidly spreading its distribution to several areas in China. While conducting some field experiments using the sex pheromone of E. batangensis in sweet persimmon orchards, a number of A. dissimilis was caught unexpectedly to the traps baited with the sex pheromone of E. batangensis, (Z)-9-tetradecan-1-ol (Z9-14OH) and (Z9,E12)-tetradeca-9,12-dien-1-ol (Z9,E12-14OH). Sequence BLAST search in the BOLD database diagnosed the moths as A. lepigone. However, morphological analysis definitely identified the moths as A. dissimilis by difference in male genitalia from that of A. lepigone. Catches of A. dissimilis to the single component of Z9-14OH or Z9,E12-14OH, and their 1:9 binary blend showed that the moth occurred twice a year, mainly from May 28 to June 25 and from August 13 to September 3. More number of A. dissimilis was attracted to 1:9 binary blend than each single component, with no significant difference among the pheromonal attractants. Thus, the 1:9 binary blend of Z9-14OH and Z9,E12-14OH can be used as a co-attractant for E. batangensis and A. dissimilis