Trapping fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) adults in traps baited with pheromone and a synthetic floral volatile compound

Field experiments were conducted to determine the effectiveness of the floral compound phenylacetaldehyde in increasing capture of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, males in pheromone-baited traps. Plastic Unitraps were placed in cotton and corn fields in north-central. Florida and were baited with commercial sex pheromone and synthetic phenylacetaldehyde released from hollow polyethylene stoppers and glass microcapillary pipets. Addition of phenylacetaldehyde as a lure was not effective in collecting more moths and actually reduced numbers of moths captured compared to pheromone-baited traps. Nontarget Hymenoptera were also collected in traps; more Sphecoidea were found in phenylacetaldehyde-baited traps compared to pheromone-baited traps.