Canadian Forest Service Publications
Sex pheromone of the baldcypress leafroller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). 2015. Sullivan, B.T.; Allison, J.D.; Goyer, R.A.; Shepherd, W.P. Journal of Economic Entomology 108:166-172.
Year: 2015
Issued by: Great Lakes Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 35969
Language: English
Availability: PDF (request by e-mail)
Available from the Journal's Web site. †
DOI: 10.1093/jee/tou018
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Abstract
The baldcypress leafroller, Archips goyerana Kruse (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a specialist on Taxodium distichum (L.) Richard and has caused serious defoliation in swamps of southeastern Louisiana, accelerating decline of baldcypress forests concurrently suffering from nutrient depletion, prolonged flooding, and saltwater intrusion. We investigated the composition of the sex pheromone of this species. Coupled gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) analyses indicated that male antennae were sensitive to four compounds [(Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (Z11-14:OAc), (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (E11-14:OAc), (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9-14:OAc), and (Z)-11-tetradecen-1-ol (Z11-14:OH)] present in female abdominal tip extracts in an approximately 100:1.5:0.6:10 ratio. In trapping trials performed in a cypress-tupelo swamp in southeastern Louisiana, moths were attracted to blends of these four components presented in approximately the female-produced ratios. Elimination of Z11-14:OH had no impact on moth response, whereas elimination of any of the three acetates strongly reduced or eliminated attraction. A blend in which the E11:Z11 ratio of 14:OAc was 5:100 was much less attractive than the same blend with the female produced ratio of 1.5:100. A. goyerana is closely related to the sympatric species Archips argyrospilus (Walker) with which it was previously synonymous. Our data revealed differences between the pheromone composition of A. goyerana and that reported for A. argyrospilus, which could account for the apparent absence of cross-attraction between these species. We conclude that a lure containing a 100:1.5:0.6 ratio of Z11-14:OAc, E11-14:OAc, and Z9-14:OAc has the potential to be used in traps to detect and measure A. goyerana populations and thereby monitor an important biotic factor contributing to the loss of coastal baldcypress forests.
Plain Language Summary
Some plant defenses results are mediated by the hormones jasmonic adic – [JA] and methyl JA. These defenses improve plant resistance to herbivores. We induced plant responses by applying high and low levels of these hormones under field conditions in the presence and absence of herbivores. We evaluated the costs and benefits of continuous high-level expression of defenses relative to naturally-induced defenses in field-grown Datura wrightii, a poisonous perennial plant and ornamental flower of southwestern North America. Defense induction was costly and significantly reduced plant fitness compared to unmanipulated plants both in the presence and absence of herbivores.