Geographical variation in pheromone response of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, in North Carolina

1570-7458

Insecta ; Ostrina nubilalis ; pheromone trapping ; maize

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Biology

Abstract The response of male European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) to synthetic pheromone lures containing various isomeric blends of the sex pheromone 11-tetradecenyl acetate was measured in 13 counties in North Carolina. The blends consisted of either 3% Z (‘E strain’), 97% Z (‘Z strain’), or 35% Z (‘hybrid’) 11-tetradecenyl acetate. Response to E strain lures predominated in those counties located in the Coastal Plain (east) of the state, while response to the Z strain pheromone was dominant in the west. A zone of overlap of these broad strain distributions appears to occur in the eastern Piedmont. Within this zone there was substantial response to both E and Z blends. The proportion of these responses changed considerably between generations within years as well as between years. Significantly higher capture rates in hybrid baited traps in parts of the overlap zone may be indicative of increased rates of hybridization between the E and Z strains.

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