Attractiveness of binary blends of floral odorant compounds to moths in Florida, USA

Evaluation of combinations of flower odor compounds in the field revealed several compounds that were attractive or co-attractive with phenylacetaldehyde (PAA) to pest noctuid and pyralid moths. A number of moth species responded positively to the key floral odorant PAA. The floral odorants cis-jasmone, linalool, benzyl acetate, limonene, beta-myrcene, methyl salicylate, and methyl 2-methoxybenzoate all increased captures of some moths when added to traps with PAA, but responses varied among the moth species that were trapped. For example, soybean looper moths, Pseudoplusia includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), most strongly responded to PAA + beta-myrcene, but benzyl acetate, cis-jasmone, and limonene also increased captures of these moths when these compounds were used in traps along with PAA. Velvetbean caterpillar moths, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), responded most strongly to PAA + linalool, but beta-myrcene, cis-jasmone, and limonene also increased captures of these moths in traps over numbers trapped with PAA. Positive responses to floral compound blends were also noted for golden looper [Argyrogramma verruca (F.)], grass looper [Mocis disseverans (Walker)], tobacco budworm [Heliothis virescens (F.)], southern armyworm [Spodoptera eridania (Stoll) (all Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)], and melonworm [Diaphania hyalinata (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)]. Overall, PAA + beta-myrcene appeared to be the strongest floral compound combination for pest species trapped, compared to PAA or other compound blends.