Trapping Lacanobia subjuncta, Xestia c-nigrum, and Mamestra configurata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) with acetic acid and 3-methyl-1-butanol in controlled release dispensers

Abstract

Both sexes of the noctuid moths Lacanobia subjuncta (Grote & Robinson), Mamestra configurata Walker (bertha armyworm) and Xestia c-nigrum (L.) (spotted cutworm) are attracted to the combination of acetic acid and 3-methyl-1-butanol (isoamyl alcohol). A controlled-release system for use of this attractant in traps was comprised of separate polypropylene vials for each chemical, with the chemical release rate delimited by a hole in the vial lid. When hole sizes for both acetic acid and 3-methyl-1-butanol were varied together, numbers of all three moth species trapped were greatest with vial hole diameters 1.0-3.0 mm. For all three species, captures of moths also were positively correlated with the ratio of acetic acid to 3-methyl-1-butanol vial hole sizes (acetic acid vial hole size was varied, 3-methyl-1-butanol vial hole size was held constant). Captures of these moths were not correlated with the ratio of 3-methyl-1-butanol/acetic acid vial hole sizes (3methyl-1-butanol vial hole size varied, acetic acid vial hole size was held constant), over the range of hole sizes tested. Captures of L. subjuncta, M. configurata, and X. c-nigrum in a wet trap were significantly increased by the addition of boric acid to the trap drowning solution (to retard microbial growth and decomposition of specimens). In a comparison of different designs of traps baited with acetic acid and 3-methyl-1-butanol, greatest numbers of all three species were captured in a dry "bucket" trap which moths entered from near the trap top.