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Current Knowledge on the Migratory Moth Autographa gamma as Basis for Future Chemo-ecological Research

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Integrative Biological Control

Part of the book series: Progress in Biological Control ((PIBC,volume 20))

Abstract

Insects from several taxonomic orders migrate to resource-rich habitats during unfavorable conditions in their current environment. The silver Y moth, Autographa gamma is a migratory moth and pest on a wide range of cultivated crops. We give a brief review on the life cycle, seasonal migration and chemical communication of the moth. Moreover, we present A. gamma trapping data recorded in pea fields of Southern Sweden and illustrate infestation of field-collected larvae by parasitoids as a group of natural enemies. Finally, we discuss the need of a better understanding on the odour-mediated host plant choice and mate finding of A. gamma and suggest transcriptomic studies and functional characterization of chemosensory receptor genes to understand how their expression governs chemoreception and behavior. Innovative chemo-ecological research and a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying migration, mate- and host finding might lead to the improvement of sustainable methods for control of A. gamma as an important agricultural pest.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to express our gratitude to Findus Sverige AB, especially to Dr. Rolf Stegmark, Dr. Agnese Brantestam for kindly providing data on sex pheromone trapping of A. gamma. We also like to thank Jordbruksverket at Alnarp, for their support with moth collection. Swedish Research Council, FORMAS, supported this work (SVR: mobility grant No. 2016-01434; PGB: grant No. 2015-1221).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Ecology Unit, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden

    Paul G. Becher & Santosh V. Revadi

Authors
  1. Paul G. Becher
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  2. Santosh V. Revadi
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Correspondence to Santosh V. Revadi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing, China

    Yulin Gao

  2. Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

    Heikki M. T. Hokkanen

  3. Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

    Ingeborg Menzler-Hokkanen

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Becher, P.G., Revadi, S.V. (2020). Current Knowledge on the Migratory Moth Autographa gamma as Basis for Future Chemo-ecological Research. In: Gao, Y., Hokkanen, H., Menzler-Hokkanen, I. (eds) Integrative Biological Control. Progress in Biological Control, vol 20. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44838-7_12

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