Cross-attraction of Five Species of Stored-product Phycitinae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in a Wind Tunnel

Environ Entomol 15: 369-372 (1986) ABSTRACT Sharing of the sex-pheromone communication channel by five species of P ~ Y citine moths was measured in a wind tunnel Overall, male pheromonal response was characterized both by high levels of interspecific attraction and broad overlap in the circadian periods of male response, with attraction to nonconspecific females 75% of that to conspecifics, on average Cadra cautella (Walker), Plodia interpunctella (HCbner), and Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller) males demonstrated high levels of upwind-flight response throughout an 8-h scotophase P interpunctella and A kuehniella males responded to nonconspecific females at levels that were as high as to conspecifics Ephestia elutella (HCbner) males showed the greatest level of response discrimination with the probability of flight to nonconspecific females only 41% of that to conspecific females, although relative importance of pheromonal differences and temporal effects could not be determined Poor reproductive isolation by long-distance parameters points to a greater reliance on less efficient short-range mechanisms, such as courtship and male pheromones Significance of these findings to current thought concerning evolution of reproductive isolating mechanisms is considered