| Abstract | Orientation of Malacosoma disstria males to traps baited with live female moths or a three-component lure (5Z,7E-12:aldehyde + 5Z,7Z-12:aldehyde + Z7-12:aldehyde) was disrupted when 5Z,7E-12:aldehyde was released from a varying number of releasers (rubber septa or Hercon plastic laminates) uniformly spaced in plots (9 by 9 m) in the field. Release rates higher than 300 µg per plot per 24 h effected >85% disruption. At these release rates, variation of the number of release points from 10 to 100 per plot had no significant effect on the percent disruption. Behavioral observations indicated that, at lower release rates per releaser (3 or 6 µg per 24 h), disruption was partly due to confusion and partly due to a reduction in search effort by the moths; at higher release rates, disruption was mainly due to reduction in searching effort. A 7-year blacklight trapping record suggests the M. disstria population was generated locally. Potential control of the population with synthetic pheromone is discussed. |
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