Abstract:
The almond moth Cadra cautella (Walk.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is difficult to control using insecticides. Female
moth releases a sex pheromone identified as (Z, E)-9, 12-tetradecadienyl acetate (ZETA). Information on popula tion management of C. cautella using pheromone is limited. Objectives of this study were to determine the effect of
pheromone dose, population size and air flow on mating status of C. cautella. The unmated male and female adults
were introduced into a cubicle, allowed mating, recaptured, and the females dissected to determine the presence of
spermatophores indicative of mating. The moths exposed to pheromone doses had lower mating than untreated
control. Mating disruption (MD) was higher at ZETA 4.5 mg/45 mL than other doses. For each population size
tested, moths exposed to synthetic pheromone had lower mating than their respective control. Insect population
sizes 10 and 20 had higher MD with the natural air flow than 30 moths/3.375 m3
. In contrast, under forced air
flow, MD was similar across all the population sizes tested. This study reveals that MD using ZETA is possible for
controlling C. cautella. Future research should address its usage under warehouse conditions having different
complexities.
