Non-target lepidopteran insects specifically attracted to a sex pheromone lure for Plutella xylostella Linnæus (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

Abstract

Sex pheromone lures usually attract the target species very specifically; however, non-target species are often also specifically attracted. Non-target species attracted to a sex pheromone lure could lead to technical problems in pest monitoring, for example in counting mechanically. In this study, non-target lepidopteran species specifically attracted to the sex pheromone lures for the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnæus) were examined in four open fields in Tsu City, Mie, Japan. In addition to specific attraction by the target species, six (Acrolepiopsis sapporensis (Matsumura), Microchilo inouei Okano, Glyphipterix nigromarginata Issiki, Eupsilia tripunctata Butler, Orthosia lizetta Butler, Anorthoa angustipennis (Matsumura)) lepidopteran species were specifically attracted to the lures for P. xylostella. Among these, A. sapporensis, M. inouei and G. nigromarginata were considered to be the species susceptible to be erroneous determination when P. xylostella are counted mechanically.