Diurnal rhythm in sex pheromone perception patterns of Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Monday, November 14, 2022

10:42 AM – 10:54 AM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 206

Presenting Author(s)

Jacqueline M. Maille

Graduate Student Research Assistant
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

Co-Author(s)

TL

Tanner J. Liba

Lab Assitant
USDA-ARS
Manhattan, Kansas
ZF

Zachary Q. Fields

Lab Assistant
USDA-ARS
Manhattan, Kansas
DD

Danielle Dryer

Lab Technician
USDA-ARS
Manhattan, Kansas
James F. Campbell

Center Director
USDA-ARS
Manhattan, Kansas
Rob Morrison, III (he/him/his)

Research Entomologist
USDA-ARS
Manhattan, Kansas
Erin D. Scully

Research Molecular Biologist
USDA-ARS
Manhattan, Kansas

Indianmeal moth or Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a pantry pest that feeds on and contaminates a diverse range of over 100 stored food products including grains, dried fruits, nuts, and flours. To prevent food losses, the major female pheromone component, (Z, E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate (ZETA), is utilized to attract males to flight traps for monitoring of pest populations and for the implementation of mating disruption. Though it is established that males perceive and behaviorally respond to ZETA diurnally, we sought to determine the antennal perception of ZETA during the diurnal timecourse for both mated and unmated males and females. Antennal responses to ZETA were recorded every three hours using an electroantennogram (EAG). We identified a differential antennal perception pattern to ZETA for both sexes and mated states, depending on time of day. This has implications for the optimal susceptibility of P. interpunctella to behaviorally-based monitoring and management strategies. Future work should determine if antennal responses correspond to behavior, such as flight or other behavioral responses to pheromones and semiochemicals, so P. interpunctella detection may be improved.