Response of Spodoptera exigua and S. eridania (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Males to Synthetic Pheromone and S. exigua Females

The seasonal occurrence of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner), and the southern armyworm, Spodoptera eridania (Cramer), was monitored over a 2-year period using International Pheromones, Ltd. Moth Traps® baited with rubber septa impregnated with pheromone blends identified from conspecific females and also with pheromone emitted by live female beet armyworm moths. The pheromone blend for beet armyworm was (Z)-9-tetradecen-1-ol (2.5%), (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadien-1-ol acetate (87.2%), and (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol acetate (10.3%). The pheromone blend used for southern armyworm was (Z)-9-tetradecen-1-ol acetate (55.78%), (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadien-1-ol acetate (21.23%), (Z,E)-9,11-tetradecadien-1-ol acetate (8.67%), and (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol acetate (14.32%). Although subtropical in habit, both species apparently can survive in North-Central Florida even when temperatures drop below freezing for several days. The response of male southern armyworm moths to traps baited with beet armyworm females was remarkably similar to that recorded for southern armyworm males to their synthetic pheromone. This response was consistent over two years.