Mating disruption of Cadra cautella in the presence of synthetic sex pheromone (Z, E)-9, 12-tetradecadienyl acetate (ZETA)

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 population 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/3.375m³. 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.