Distribution of adult stages of soil insect pests across an agricultural landscape

The landscape scale distributions of adult male click beetles of the species Agriotes lineatus, A. obscurus and A. sputator, and the cranefly Tipula paludosa were studied using traps along transects over 2 years. The transects (0.7–1.7 km with either sex pheromone (Agriotes) or water (T. paludosa) traps at 100 m spacings) were in an area of mixed organic land use. Agriotes lineatus was the most numerous click beetle caught even though its larvae were absent from these fields. Greater trap counts were found for all taxa except A. obscurus in grassland. The number of click beetles were influenced by the sampling year, crop type and the species, and interactions of other variables, suggesting that sex pheromone trap counts exhibit variability because of the complexity of the environment. Trap catches were spatially clustered with the exception of A. lineatus in 2005 which had a random distribution. Only A. sputator showed a significant, positive relationship between counts in 2005 and 2006. Variation in catch count of crane flies was largely determined by crop type. We conclude that Agriotes spp. disperse widely and may be recruited from outside the field which makes the interpretation of sex pheromone trap counts scientifically challenging.     

Comparison of lure-baited insecticide-treated tripod trap logs and lure-baited traps for control of Ips duplicatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Two methods were compared for capturing the bark beetle Ips duplicatus Sahlberg (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae): lure-baited, insecticide-treated tripod trap logs (TRIPODs) versus Theysohn pheromone traps (TPTs). In 2008 and 2011 and at each of three clearcuts, five TPTs and five TRIPODs baited with ID Ecolure pheromone evaporators were installed with 10 m spacing. The pheromone evaporators were renewed every 8 weeks. The TRIPODs were treated with the insecticide Vaztak 10 EC in mid-April and then every 5 weeks thereafter. Trap logs and traps were inspected weekly during the entire period of I. duplicatus flight activity (April–September). Two to three times more beetles were trapped by the TPTs than by the TRIPODs. The TPTs captured more females than males, while TRIPODs captured equivalent numbers of males and females or more males than females on some dates. The TPTs and TRIPODs trapped approximately the same numbers of males, but the TPTs captured more females than the TRIPODs. Both traps captured more adults in spring than in summer. The higher numbers of entomophagous arthropods, including the predacious beetles Thanasimus formicarius L. and T. femoralis, were captured in the TRIPODs than in the TPTs.     

Predation of lowbush blueberry insect pests by ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in the laboratory

Agriculture relies on ecosystem services, such as biological control of pests, for economic success and sustainability. Commercially managed lowbush blueberries are an important crop in eastern North America, but pest control by natural enemies has not been well studied. In this paper we address questions about consumption of two blueberry pests by ground beetles (Carabidae) that are common in blueberry fields. In the first experiment, a Poecilus l. lucublandus, Carabus nemoralis, or Pterostichus mutus beetle was placed with two blueberry spanworm larvae, Itame argillacearia, in a simple (cup only or cup + soil) or more complex (cup + soil + blueberry sprigs) treatment arena. In most cases, probability of spanworm consumption reached 100 % in simple arenas by the end of the experiment (48 h) but was 25–50 % lower in more complex arenas. In a second experiment, a male or female Pterostichus melanarius or Harpalus rufipes beetle was placed in a plastic container with saturated or dry soil into which mature blueberry maggots, Rhagoletis mendax, dropped from blueberries to pupate. Approximately 40–80 and 35 % fewer pupae were recovered when a P. melanarius and H. rufipes beetle was present, respectively, but soil moisture and beetle sex were not significant factors. Our results demonstrate that ground beetles can prey upon important blueberry pests, but suggest that consumption may be influenced by microhabitat structure.     

Zur Wirkung von Aasgeruch auf die Fangleistung von Buchdruckerfallen

The effect of carrion smell on the catching-efficiency of pheromone baited flight barriere traps for the spruce bark beetleIps typographus L. was studied from June to September 1989 in a spruce forest near Göttingen. We compared the number of spruce bark beetles and carrion beetles catched with 6 pairs of Theysohn-Slit-Traps, baited with Pheroprax^®. The first trap of each pair controlled in regular time intervals of 14 days. The second controlled singulary at the end of the study. If the traps aren't controlled at regular intervals, the catching-efficiency of the traps decreases caused by the dead beetles in the trap. Contemporarily the number of carrion beetles in the traps increases. During the flight of the second generation ofIps typographus controll intervals of 14 days lead to an increased impact of carrion beetles in the traps.     

Population dynamics of Dasiops inedulis (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) and its biotic and abiotic mortality factors in Colombian sweet passionfruit orchards

Throughout South America, the lonchaeid flies Dasiops spp. are important herbivores of passionfruit crops. However, little is known on the biology and ecology of these insects, resulting in inadequate pest management schemes. In this study, we describe Dasiops inedulis population dynamics in Colombian sweet passionfruit (SP; Passiflora ligularis Juss.) and elucidate biotic mortality factors at different fly developmental stages. From August 2009 to July 2010, D. inedulis and Dasiops spp. abundance was assessed through monthly McPhail bait trapping and collection of SP flower buds, flowers, and immature fruits. Mortality levels of D. inedulis were determined for early instar larvae by ovary dissection and for late-instar larvae or pupae by prey removal trials. Maximum infestation reached 80 % in fruits and flower buds, and bud infestation correlated with precipitation during the previous month. Two days after oviposition, 8.2 ± 2.3 (mean ± SD) Dasiops sp. eggs were found in SP ovaries and 4.4 ± 1.2 late-instar larvae were recovered from immature fruits at day 14. Upon larval drop on the orchard soil, 74.8 % larvae burrowed within the soil within 9 min, while 12.5 % larvae were attacked by ants. In-field mortality of young pupae amounted to 75.3 ± 7.0 %, with vertebrate predators likely causing 12.1 ± 6.0 % mortality. Late-instar larvae and pupae appear highly vulnerable to natural enemy action, with the ground-foraging predator community mainly composed of ants (80.37 %) and ground beetles (9.17 %). Our findings should help develop integrated pest management (IPM) tactics for SP crops.     

Influence of agroforestry practices on the structure and spatiality of shea trees (Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn.) in central-west Burkina Faso

This article examines the role of humans in shaping a shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn.) population in Prata, central-west Burkina Faso. Four management regimes or land uses were considered: fields cultivated by indigenous Gurunsi farmers, fields cultivated by migrant Moose farmers, fallows, and bush lands. The structure of the shea population differed between Gurunsi and Moose fields and between these fields and fallow and bush lands. The size class distribution of V. paradoxa in fallows and bush lands was skewed towards the lower classes and the slope of the distributions was negative and significant, indicating the occurrence of recruitment. In comparison, Gurunsi fields carried young and mature trees with 95 % of individuals in the 15.5–90 cm range, whereas Moose fields carried no specimen with dbh <16.5 cm. The slope of the size class distribution was slightly negative for Gurunsi fields and slightly positive for Moose fields, but non significant in both cases. Vitellaria paradoxa densities did not significantly differ between Gurunsi (35 stems/ha) and Moose (26 stems/ha) fields, but were higher in fallows (172 stems/ha) and in the bush (161 stems/ha) than in cultivated fields. Nearest neighbour distances were progressively greater from uncultivated fields to Gurunsi and finally Moose fields, whereas shea trees were increasingly aggregated from Moose to Gurunsi fields to fallows and bush lands. In Prata, shea tree management is thus associated with ethnicity and/or with a host/migrant status that confers different farm sizes and levels of tenure security to farming households. Gurunsi and Moose farmers cited productivity, spacing and shading effects as the main factors influencing their decision to conserve specific shea trees in their fields. Results signal favorable prospects for V. paradoxa regeneration in Prata’s fallows and bush lands and to a lesser extent in Gurunsi fields.     

Possible altitude and temperature limits on pine wilt disease: the reproduction of vector sawyer beetles (Monochamus alternatus), survival of causal nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), and occurrence of damage caused by the disease

Pine wilt disease is caused by the pine wood nematode [Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et Buhrer) Nickle]. In East Asia, an important vector of the nematode is Monochamus alternatus Hope. We determined the tolerance and reproductive ability of sawyer beetles and the nematode to altitude and temperature at elevations between 850 and 1,450 m on Mt. Fuji in Japan. The number of emergent adults decreased markedly along the altitudinal gradient, but the beetle could still reproduce at 1,050 m (8.2 °C annual mean temperature). Beetles with a 2-year life cycle increased rapidly in number with increasing altitude. The pine wood nematode survived through winter at all altitudes tested (850–1,450 m). The beetle population decreased between 950 (9.1 °C) and 1,150 m (8.3 °C). Therefore, the beetle population seems to be stable at 850 m (10.2 °C) and lower altitudes (higher temperatures) but cannot be maintained from 950 (9.1 °C) to 1,150 m (8.3 °C) without constant immigration of beetles from lower altitudes. The beetles could not reproduce at altitudes above 1,150 m (lower than 8.2 °C). From the mean and effective cumulative temperatures, we concluded that the beetle (and its population) can endure temperatures lower than those previously reported. Pine wilt disease also occurred at lower temperatures and higher altitudes than expected. We have summarized the principal strategies for controlling the disease at high altitudes based on these results.     

Effectiveness and side effects of glue-traps to decrease damages caused by Byturus tomentosus in raspberry

Damages caused by the larvae of Byturus tomentosus (Coleoptera: Byturidae) are a big problem of European raspberry production. Under integrated pest management conditions in Switzerland, B. tomentosus is controlled by chemical-synthetic insecticides. In organic production, no corresponding insecticides are permitted. White sticky traps (type Rebell^® bianco) are used for monitoring purposes. Can glue-traps also be used for mass-trapping and damage control? In this study, the attractiveness for adult B. tomentosus of one yellow and several white glue-traps was compared by counting the trapped individuals. Trapped beneficial insects like honey bees, Coccinellidae, Syrphidae and Chrysopidae were also counted. The contamination of the traps caused by other non-target arthropods was measured by a computer-assisted method. The white sticky trap type Rebell bianco was the most attractive for B. tomentosus. The attractiveness for the beneficials was relatively low, except when too much glue was applied on the traps, then the attractiveness for honey bees increased significantly. In this study, traps, which were placed in high densities (17 traps per 100 m²), significantly decreased the damages caused by larvae by around 40%. The trapping method does not cause any residuals of pesticides on the fruits or soil. Therefore, the trapping method could be an alternative to control B. tomentosus, especially in organic production.     

Beetles (Coleoptera) caught with pheromones of Gnathotrichus retusus and G. sulcatus (Col., Scolytidae) in southern Finland

The ambrosia beetle Gnathotrichus materiarius, which originally came from North America, was discovered in southern Finland in 1996. In 1997, using Norwegian drainpipe traps baited with pheromones of Gnathotrichus retusus and G. sulcatus, we collected beetles in the region where the first specimen had been caught in order to determine whether this potential pest species had become established in the area. Samples from a total of 16 traps included 79 species of beetles and 719 individuals, but no specimens of G. materiarius. The most abundant species in the samples were the ambrosia beetles Xyleborus dispar and Trypodendron lineatum. Several predators and other associates of bark beetles were also captured. The majority of the beetles caught were saproxylic species.     

Trapping wood boring beetles in Italian ports: a pilot study

Invasive alien species cost forestry billions of euros every year and their early detection is becoming of utmost importance. The aim of this study is to improve some of the techniques available for trapping alien wood boring beetles (Scolytinae, Cerambycidae, and Buprestidae) arriving at high-risk sites, such as ports. During 2009–2011, trapping carried out in four Italian seaports tested the comparative efficiency of different luring (single-lure vs. multi-lure traps) and trap designs (cross-vane vs. multi-funnel). In addition, trap captures within the ports were compared with those obtained in surrounding areas. Six out of 49 species trapped in 3 years of investigation were of alien origin: four Scolytinae and two Cerambycidae. The number of species trapped in multi-lure traps was as high as that resulting from the sum of the single-lure traps. The two trap designs performed equally well, but multi-funnel traps were more robust and easier to use in ports. In 2011, the number of species trapped in ports and surrounding areas was similar, although differently distributed. On a total of 26 species trapped in this experiment, nine were exclusive to ports, of which three aliens, eight were exclusive to surrounding areas, of which one alien, and nine were common to both habitats, of which one alien. In conclusion, we suggest the use of multi-funnel traps baited with different lures for monitoring alien wood boring beetles in ports. Using traps outside the port is also recommended to validate the surveillance program.     

Effect of aging in adult Monochamus alternatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) on the susceptibility of the beetle to Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales)

To clarify the effect of aging in adult Monochamus alternatus on the susceptibility of the beetle to Beauveria bassiana, we inoculated the fungus into adult beetles 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after emergence. The number of days from B. bassiana inoculation to M. alternatus death increased with the number of days from beetle emergence to inoculation up to 14 days after emergence. This indicated that the susceptibility of adult beetles to the fungus decreased with aging. However, B. bassiana-inoculated beetles 28 days after emergence died earlier after inoculation than those inoculated with the fungus 14 days after emergence; i.e., the beetle’s susceptibility to the fungus increased again. We considered this phenomenon to be the result of senescence of adult beetles. We concluded that the susceptibility of M. alternatus to B. bassiana decreased first and then increased again with aging.     

Bark beetle (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) diversity in spaced and unmanaged mature lodgepole pine (Pinaceae) in southeastern British Columbia

Variation in the number and diversity of bark beetles in spaced mature lodgepole pine stands in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia was analyzed in relation to location (site), spacing treatment and years following treatment. We analyzed the number of bark beetles and the number of bark beetle species that emerged from stumps or were captured in flight traps in the first five years following spacing. We also investigated the incidence of bark beetle attacks on the remaining trees and the mean dates of emergence from stumps and of capture in flight traps for the common species. Observations were made on three sites, each having three treatments: 4 m × 4 m spacing, 5 m × 5 m spacing, and an untreated control. The mean density of bark beetles emerged from stumps was different among sites and years but not between spacing treatments. There was no statistically significant variation in the number of bark beetle species captured in flight traps by site, spacing treatment, years, or spacing treatment and years. Significantly more bark beetles were captured in the 4 m × 4 m spacing treatment than in the control. The number of bark beetles captured was the highest in the first 2 years following treatment. Up to 26 species of bark beetles, excluding ambrosia beetles, were captured in flight barrier traps. There was no difference in species diversity by site or treatment indicating that species diversity in mature lodgepole pine is relatively stable over large areas. Of the 213 trees that sustained at least 10 attacks by bark beetles on the lower 2 m of the bole, 59.1% occurred in the spaced plots but only 18.2% of those were successful, versus 74.7% success in the infested trees in the control plots. The majority of infested trees contained Ips sp., Dendroctonus valens and D. murrayanae. Of the seven trees attacked by mountain pine beetle (D. ponderosae) only one tree was located in a spaced plot.     

IPM thresholds for Agriotes wireworm species in maize in Southern Europe

Currently, integrated pest management (IPM) of wireworms is not widespread in Europe. Therefore, to estimate the densities of three major wireworm species in southern Europe (Agriotes brevis Candeze, A. sordidus Illiger, and A. ustulatus Schäller), bait traps were deployed pre-seeding in maize fields in north-eastern Italy between 1993 and 2011. Research discovered that there was a significant correlation between all three wireworm species caught in the bait traps and damage to maize plants, but damage symptoms varied. Wherever A. ustulatus was the main species caught, there was no significant damage to maize plants, but seeds were damaged. Most of the symptoms caused by A. brevis and A. sordidus were to the central leaf/leaves, which wilted because of feeding on the collar. A. brevis was the most harmful species; when more than one A. brevis wireworm was caught per trap, plant damage sometimes resulted in reduced yield. Five A. ustulatus larvae per trap caused the same damage to maize as one A. brevis. A. sordidus came second (threshold two larvae/trap). These thresholds are reliable for: (1) bare soil in which there are no alternative food sources; (2) average soil temperature 10 cm beneath the surface of above 8 °C for 10 days; (3) soil humidity near to field water capacity, but days of flooding have not been considered. The implementation of the practical method described herein may lead to effective IPM of wireworms in maize and to a significant reduction in the number of fields treated with soil insecticides.     

Ein Beitrag zum Verhalten des BuchdruckersIps typographus L. während der Flugphase

In the open air newly emerged beetles showed a very different flight capability. The initial flight was directed by optical structures next to the starting place. The number of caught beetles in pheromone baited traps showed that in the endemic phase the summergeneration ofIps typographus extended the dispersal flight to decidous stands. Relative high numbers of beetles were counted in traps on the southern edge of a beechstand at a distance of at least 400m from the next potential breeding place. Within the beechstand beetles were caught too but in a significant smaller number as on the edge.     

Test von Monoterpenen als Zusatz zu Pheroprax® bzw. Chalcoprax® in Pheromonfallen zum Fang des Buchdruckers,Ips typographus L. bzw. des Kupferstechers,Pityogenes chalcographus L. (Col., Scolytidae)

Experiments on monoterpenes in combination with Pheroprax^® and Chalcoprax^® in pheromone traps for catching the bark beetlesIps typographus L. andPityogenes chalcographus L. (Col., Scolytidae) It is highly evident that monoterpenes of the host tree serve as olfactory stimulants for “pioneer-beetles” colonizing first a tree before any bark-beetle-produced aggregation pheromones can lure those beetles to the host. The findings ofRedemann (1993) about a significant increase of spruce engraver catches by addition of both (?)-alpha-pinen and (+)-limonen simultaneously to pheroprax-baited bark beetle traps (Pheroprax^R being the aggregation pheromone ofIps typographus) induced us to conduct field experiments testing the same host volatiles in comparable bark beetle traps baited with either Pheroprax^® or Chalcoprax^® (aggregation pheromone ofPityogenes chalcographus). Despite we used methods considering the influence of place and time on the bark beetle flight activities, in 3 experiments with 30 repetitions in total no monoterpene-induced enhancement oftypographus-catches could be found; the same was true withP. chalcographus (2 experiments, 18 repetitions in total). With respect to the important role of host volatiles also from a practical point of view, it is strongly recommended to repeat experiments like these under different conditions to reveal the reasons of the different findings.     

Effects of temperature and yeast supplementation on the development ofTribolium castaneum (Herbst) in wholemeal and polished flour derived from four cereals in Maiduguri, Nigeria

The effects of temperature, yeast and polishing (removal of bran) on the development ofTribolium castaneurn (Herbst) in flour derived from millet, sorghum, maize and wheat were investigated for one generation in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Significantly moreT. castaneurn adults and larvae developed in flour stored at 35 °C than in flour stored at 30 °C or 40 °C; mortality of adult beetles in flour stored at 40 °C was 95 % in sorghum and maize and 100 % in millet and wheat. Addition of three levels (2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 %, w/w) of yeast to cereal flour, on average, significantly increased the population of adult and larval progenies relative to the population in yeast-free flour. Considerably higher number of adult beetles developed in wholemeal than in polished flour derived from millet.     

Efficacy of diatomaceous earth formulations against Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) in Kersting’s groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpum Harms): influence of dosage rate and relative humidity

The pulse beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus F. is a key pest to stored Kersting’s groundnut, Macrotyloma geocarpum Harms. There are many reports evaluating various diatomaceous earths (DEs) against stored product pests, but there is limited information on the efficacy of these materials against C. maculatus and none on Kerstings groundnut. Laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the DEs, Diatomenerde, Probe-A, Fossil shield, and Damol-D1 against C. maculatus in seeds of M. geocarpum. Each DE was applied at 0.50, 1.00, 1.50, and 2.00 g kg^?1, and each treatment infested with newly emerged C. maculatus in petri dishes. The set up was maintained at 50 and 80 % RH regimes at ambient temperature. Data were collected on adult mortality (at 24 h, 48 h, 7 days, and 14 days), oviposition, and progeny emergence of the beetles, and their effects on weight loss and viability of seeds. Probe-A proved the most effective against the beetle, followed by Damol-D1 and Fossil shield. Adult mortality increased progressively with the increasing dosage of DE and exposure time. Seeds treated at 2.00 or 1.50 g kg^?1 recorded significantly lower number of eggs and F1 emergence compared with the lower dosages in all DEs. Increased DE concentration consistently decreased seed weight loss due to low beetle infestation, but there was no significant effect on seed viability. DEs were more effective at 50 % RH than at 80 % RH. Probe-A or Damol-D1 applied at 1.50 or 2.00 g kg^?1 at 50 % RH is a viable alternative for preventing C. maculatus infestation in stored Kersting’s groundnut.     

The larger,the better? Effects of delayed diameter-limit cutting on old-growth attributes and saproxylic beetle diversity in temperate oak forests

Intensive management implies harvesting large, old trees, which reduces the old-growth attributes. This negatively affects biodiversity, especially saproxylic beetles. In managed temperate oak forests, rotation extension induced by increasing the diameter threshold of final harvest by about 10 cm compared to conventional practices (i.e. DBH around 70 cm) might mitigate this negative effect. Here, we used a gradient of the proportion of overmature trees (DBH?≥?80 cm) among mature trees (DBH?≥?70 cm) across plots of high oak French forests to test the potential effect of increasing diameter threshold on (1) structural features and (2) species composition and diversity of saproxylic beetles communities. We assessed deadwood and microhabitats availability (i.e. volume/density and diversity) and canopy openness in 81 1-ha plots across eleven French forests. Results highlighted that a larger proportion of overmature trees, for a given density of mature trees, had limited effects on structural features: only cavities density showed a significant positive response, with no cascading effect on cavicolous beetles. Moreover, the proportion of overmature trees had no significant effect on the composition of saproxylic beetles communities (and ecological variables altogether explained only 17% of the composition inertia). By contrast, mature tree density enhanced microhabitat density and indirectly increased the abundance of rare species. Thus, shifting DBH from 70 to 80 cm in high oak forest could have no or limited effect on saproxylic beetles conservation. Improved strategies might rather stem from combining (1) longer rotation extension and (2) less intensive management practices in extended rotation stands.     

Nondestructive evaluation of egg-to-adult development and feeding behavior of the bamboo powderpost beetle <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dinoderus minutus</Emphasis> using X-ray computed tomography

The life history and feeding biology of the bamboo powderpost beetle Dinoderus minutus remain poorly understood because the beetles’ oviposition, development, and feeding take place inside bamboo culms. In this study, X-ray computed tomography (CT) was employed to nondestructively quantify the progression of larval body size and tunnel size from the first instar to pupation. Eggs of D. minutus laid between laminates of nutrient-containing filter paper were easily collected. The newly hatched larvae were inoculated singly into pieces of internodes of madake (Phyllostachys bambusoides). The pieces were scanned using a microfocus X-ray CT system every 3–5 days to visualize the beetles’ bodies and tunnels with resolutions of 18–60 μm/voxel. CT scans were continued after adult eclosion to analyze pre-mating adult feeding. The collected eggs were 0.84 ± 0.06 mm (mean ± SD) in length and the egg duration lasted 5.0 ± 0.8 days. Based on CT images, the larvae grew to 3.53 ± 0.23 mm in body length and turned into pupae of 3.42 ± 0.09 mm. The larvae bored tunnels with a length of 80.2 ± 4.8 mm and a volume of 68.0 ± 7.0 mm³ over the larval period of 61 ± 11 days. Newly emerged adults remained in the bamboo pieces to feed before making exit holes in 8 ± 1 days after adult eclosion. During this period, they bored tunnels at rates of 2.64 ± 0.58 mm/day in length and 4.87 ± 1.10 mm³/day in volume.     

Factors affecting field performance of pheromone traps for tobacco beetle, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lasioderma serricorne</Emphasis>, and tobacco moth, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ephestia elutella</Emphasis>

Tobacco beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae), is one of the most serious insect pests of stored tobacco, and traps baited with the female-produced sex pheromone, serricornin, are used for monitoring the pest. In two trapping experiments carried out in tobacco warehouses in Greece, two commercially available trap and lure systems for L. serricorne were found to be equally effective in terms of the numbers of beetles trapped. In contrast to previous reports, anhydroserricornin was unattractive and lures containing serricornin and anhydroserricornin were less attractive than lures containing serricornin only. The sex pheromone of the other main insect pest of tobacco, Ephestia elutella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), could be added to the lures without affecting the attractiveness of either pheromone to their respective species. Lures remained attractive for at least 4 weeks under field conditions, and, in laboratory tests, release of pheromone could still be detected after 30 days at 27 °C. The stereoisomeric composition of the serricornin in the two commercial lures was similar with high proportions of the attractive (4S,6S,7S)-isomer. The proportion of the (4S,6S,7R)-isomer was low, and this is known to reduce the attractiveness.