Optimization of a pheromone lure for Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) in Central America

Mass trapping of Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) in Central America required a high performance lure with consistent capture rates. S. frugiperda lures from North America and England gave erratic capture rates under field conditions. A reinvestigation of four acetate attractants (Z9-14Ac, Z11-16Ac, Z7-12Ac and Z9-12Ac) for S. frugiperda present in Costa Rica revealed that Z7-12Ac and Z9-12Ac were highly attractive to S. frugiperda when presented alone. Binary combination of Z7-12Ac with Z9-14Ac significantly increased attraction and was at least 10 times more attractive to S. frugiperda in Costa Rica than North American or English lures. Addition of Z11-16Ac to binary combinations of Z9-14Ac and Z7-12Ac marginally increased capture rates. If the concentration of Z7-12Ac is increased to 5% in lures containing Z9-14Ac, Z11-16Ac and Z7-12Ac capture rates significantly decrease. The optimized lure contains Z7-12Ac that is a component not previously reported in S. frugiperda from the Caribbean region.