Attraction of Heliothis belladonna (Henry and Edwards) to the Sex Pheromone of the Corn Earworm Moth, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Several males of Heliothis belladonna (Henry and Edwards) were initially captured in traps baited with commercial pheromone lures for the corn earworm moth, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie). Significant numbers of H. belladonna moths were subsequently captured in traps baited with a 4-component blend of corn earworm pheromone composed of Z-11-hexadecenal, Z-9-hexadecenal, Z-7-hexadecenal, and hexadecenal, and with a 2-component blend composed of Z-9-hexadecenal and Z-11-hexadecenal. Males of H. belladonna were not captured in traps baited with Z-11-hexadecenal alone. Heliothis belladonna were captured in traps during March, April, and early May in eastern Washington, which is before monitoring of corn earworm by growers normally begins, and before the corn earworm flight is anticipated. Therefore, the capture of this non-target species is unlikely to be a problem for the monitoring of corn earworm moths.