Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pheromone-mediated behavior of the gypsy moth

  • Published:
Journal of Chemical Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The pheromone-mediated behavior of gypsy moth males was studied in both natural and simulated populations in central Pennsylvania. Feral males released into 50-m-diam plots, each with 2 feral females around the perimeter, oriented initially to trees and not to females. Neither exposure to virgin females nor exposure to wicks baited with approx 6 mg disparlure affected the subsequent sexual activity of males released into the 0.2-hectare plots. Males released into untreated plots, following 24 hr exposure in an area treated with approx 37 g/hectare of microencapsulated disparlure, located and mated with feral females within 4 min after release. None of the released males was caught in disparlure-baited Delta traps. In the disparlure-treated plot none of the females was mated. Males within this treated plot continued to search actively but did not settle down on the bark surface and initiate short-range (< 15 cm) search behavior. In plots testing the effect of various ratios of baited wicks to virgin females on disruption, there was no evidence of mating disruption due to point-source confusion. There were no significant differences in the responses of feral males to either virgin females or the various portions of Hercon wicks placed out in 0.2-hectare plots. In a series of tests using feral virgin females given various treatments to alter their physical and chemical characteristics (i.e., removed wings, denuded abdomen, washed in xylene, etc.), all females elicited the full range of sexual behavior responses of the male moths in natural populations. Apparently, males stimulated by pheromone are capable of using a number of different additional stimuli to initiate and terminate short-range sexual behavior patterns.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bartell, R.J., andLawrence, L.A. 1973. Reduction in responsiveness of males ofEpiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera) to sex pheromone following previous brief pheromonal exposure.J. Insect Physiol. 19:845–855.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartell, R.J., andShorey, H.H. 1969. A quantitative bioassay for the sex pheromone ofEpiphyas postivittana (Lepidoptera) and factors limiting male responsiveness.J. Insect Physiol. 15:33–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beroza, M. 1971. Insect sex attractants.Am. Sci. 59:320–325.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beroza, M., andBierl, B.A. 1971. Studies on the sex attraction of the gypsy moth and related topics, pp. 115–142,in A.S. Tahori (ed.). Pesticide Chemistry. Proc. 2nd Internl. IUPAC Congress, Vol. 3. Chemical Releasers in Insects, Gordon and Breach, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beroza, M., andKnipling, E.F. 1972. Gypsy moth control with the sex attractant pheromone.Science 177:19–27.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beroza, M., Bierl, B.A., Knipling, E.F., andTardif, J.G.R. 1971a. The activity of the gypsy moth sex attractant vs. that of the live female moth.J. Econ. Entomol. 64:1527–1529.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beroza, M., Bierl, B.A., Tardif, J.G.R., Cook, D.A., andPaszek, E.C. 1971b. Activity and persistence of synthetic and natural sex attractants of the gypsy moth in laboratory and field trials.J. Econ. Entomol. 64:1499–1508.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beroza, M., Stevens, L.J., Bierl, B.A., Philips, F.M., andTardif, J.G.R. 1973. Preand postseason field tests with disparlure, the sex pheromone of the gypsy moth, to prevent mating.Environ. Entomol. 2:1051–1057.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beroza, M., Hood, C.S., Trefrey, D., Leonard, D.E., Knipling, E.F., Klassen, W., andStevens, L.J. 1974a. Large field trials with microencapsulated sex pheromone to prevent mating of the gypsy moth.J. Econ. Entomol. 67:659–664.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beroza, M., Paszek, E.G., Mitchell, E.R., Bierl, B.A., McLaughlin, J.R., andChambers, D.L. 1974b. Tests of a 3-layer laminated plastic bait dispenser for controlled emission of attractants from insect traps.Environ. Entomol. 3:926–928.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beroza, M., Hood, C.S., Trefrey, D., Leonard, D.E., Knipling, E.F., andKlassen, W. 1975a. Field trials with disparlure in Massachusetts to suppress mating of the gypsy moth.Environ. Entomol. 4:705–711.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beroza, M., Paszek, E.O., DeVilbiss, D., Bierl, B.A., andTardif, J.G.R. 1975b. A 3-layer laminated plastic dispenser for use in traps for gypsy moth.Environ. Entomol. 4:712–714.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bertalanffy, L. Von. 1968. General System Theory, Foundation, Development, Applications. G. Braziller Inc., New York. 289 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bierl, B.A., Beroza, M., andCollier, C.W. 1970. Potent sex attractant of the gypsy moth,Porthetria dispar (L.): Its isolation, identification, and synthesis.Science 170:87–89.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bierl, B.A., Beroza, M., andCollier, C.W. 1972. Isolation, identification, and synthesis of the gypsy moth sex attractant.J. Econ. Entomol. 65:659–664.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, E.A., andCameron, E.A. 1977. Physiological spectral sensitivity of the compound eye ofPorthetria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) males, and behavioral implications.Can. Entomol. In press.

  • Cameron, E.A. 1973. Displarlure: A potential tool for gypsy moth population manipulation.Bull. Entomol. Soc. Am. 19:15–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, E.A., Schwalbe, C.P., Beroza, M., andKnipling, E.F. 1974. Disruption of gypsy moth mating with microencapsulated disparlure.Science 183:972–973.

    Google Scholar 

  • CardÉ, R.T., Roelofs, W.L., andDoane, C.C. 1973. Natural inhibitor of the gypsy moth sex attractant.Nature 241:474–475.

    Google Scholar 

  • CardÉ, R.T., Doane, C.C., andRoelofs, W.L. 1974. Diel periodicity of male pheromone response and female attractiveness in the gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae).Can. Entomol. 106:479–484.

    Google Scholar 

  • CardÉ, R.T., Doane, C.C., Granett, J., andRoelofs, W.L. 1975. Disruption of pheromone communication in the gypsy moth: Some behavioral effects of disparlure and an attractant modifier.Environ. Entomol. 4:793–796.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doane, C.C. 1968. Aspects of mating behavior of the gypsy moth.Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 61:768–773.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farkas, S.R., andShorey, H.H. 1974. Mechanisms of orientation to a distant pheromone source, pp. 81–95,in M.C. Birch (ed.), Pheromones. Elsevier North Holland, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farkas, S.R., Shorey, H.H., andGaston, L.K. 1974. Sex pheromones of Lepidoptera. The use of widely spaced evaporators of looplure for the disruption of pheromone communication inTrichoplusia ni.Environ. Entomol. 3:876–877.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farkas, S.R., Shorey, H.H., andGaston, L.K. 1975. Sex pheromones of Lepidoptera. The influence of prolonged exposure to pheromone on behavior of males ofTrichoplusia ni.Environ. Entomol. 4:737–741.

    Google Scholar 

  • Granett, J. 1974. Estimation of male mating potential of gypsy moths with disparlure traps.Environ. Entomol. 3:383–385.

    Google Scholar 

  • Granett, J., andDoane, C.C. 1975. Reduction of gypsy moth male mating potential in dense populations by mistblower sprays of microencapsulated disparlure.J. Econ. Entomol. 68:435–437.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodgson, E.S. 1974. Chemoreception, pp. 127–164,in M. Rockstein (ed.), The Physiology of Insecta, Vol. 2. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iwaki, S., Marumo, S., Saito, T., Yamada, M., andKatagiri, K. 1975. Synthesis and activity of optically active disparlure.J. Am. Chem. Soc. 96:7842–7844.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson, M. 1974. Insect Sex Attractants. John Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaae, R.S., McLaughlin, J.R., Shorey, H.H., andGaston, L.K. 1972. Sex pheromones of Lepidoptera. XXXII. Disruption of interspecific pheromone communication in various species of Lepidoptera of permeation of the air with looplure or hexlure.Environ. Entomol. 1:651–653.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markl, H. 1974. Insect behavior: Function and mechanism, pp. 3–148,in M. Rockstein (ed.). The Physiology of Insecta. Vol. 3. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marks, R. J. 1975. Sex pheromone ofDiparopsis castanea (Hmps) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Occasional Report Number 2. Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Makoka Agricultural Experiment Station, Thondale, Malawi.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLaughlin, J.R., Shorey, H.H., Gaston, L.K., Kaae, R.S., andStewart, F.D. 1972. Sex pheromones of Lepidoptera. XXXI. Disruption of sex pheromones communication inPectinophora gossypiella with hexlure.Environ. Entomol. 1:645–650.

    Google Scholar 

  • Payne, T.L., Shorey, H.H., andGaston, L.K. 1970. Sex pheromones of noctuid moths: Factors influencing antennal responsiveness in males ofTrichoplusia ni.J. Insect Physiol. 16:1043–1055.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Richerson, J.V., andCameron, E.A. 1974. Differences in pheromones release and sexual behavior between laboratory-reared and wild gypsy moth adults.Environ. Entomol. 3:475–481.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richerson, J.V., Cameron, E.A., andBrown, E.A. 1976a. Sexual activity of the gypsy moth.Am. Midl. Nat. 95:299–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richerson, J.V., Brown, E.A., andCameron, E.A. 1976b. Pre-mating sexual activity of gypsy moth males in small plot field tests (Lymantria (=Porthetria) dispar (L.): Lymantriidae).Can. Entomol. 108:439–448.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shorey, H.H. 1972. Use of pheromones in pest control.Proc. North Cent. Branch Entomol. Soc. Am. 27:30–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shorey, H.H., andGaston, L.K. 1964. Sex pheromones of noctuid moths. III. Inhibition of male response to the sex pheromone inTrichoplusia ni (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 57:775–779.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shorey, H.H., andGaston, L.K. 1970. Sex pheromones of noctuid moths. XX. Shortrange visual orientation by pheromone-stimulated males ofTrichoplusia ni.Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 63:829–832.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shorey, H.H., Kaae, R.S., Gaston, L.K., andMclaughlin, J.R. 1972. Sex pheromones of Lepidoptera. XXX. Disruption of sex pheromone communication inTrichoplusia ni as a possible means of mating control.Environ. Entomol. 1:641–645.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stark, R.S., Cameron, E.A., andRicherson, J.V. 1974. Determination of mating and fertility of female gypsy moths.J. Econ. Entomol. 67:296–297.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, L.J., andBeroza, M. 1972. Mating-inhibition field tests using disparlure, the synthetic gypsy moth sex pheromone.J. Econ. Entomol. 65:1090–1095.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tardif, J.G.R.,Paszek, E.C.,Beroza, M., andSchwalbe, C.P. 1977. Delta trap for male gypsy moths,Porthetria dispar (L.).J. Econ. Entomol. In press.

  • Traynier, R.M.M. 1970. Habituation of the response to sex pheromone in two species of Lepidoptera, with reference to a method of control.Entomol. Exp. Appl. 13:179–187.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, 16802, University Park, Pennsylvania

    J. V. Richerson

Authors
  1. J. V. Richerson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Lymantria dispar (L.); Lymantriidae: Lepidoptera.

Authorized for publication on April 19, 1976 as paper no. 5066 in the journal series of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station, Experiment Station Project No. 2044.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Richerson, J.V. Pheromone-mediated behavior of the gypsy moth. J Chem Ecol 3, 291–308 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988445

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988445

Key words

Search

Navigation