Abstract
Copitarsia sp. (Hampson) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Cuculliinae) is a quarantine pest in different countries and affects diverse crops of economic importance in South America. The development of ethological control strategies is an important issue that requires knowing the reproductive behavior of the species involved. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish the reproductive behavior of Copitarsia uncilata (Burgos & Leiva) and to evaluate the attractiveness of synthetic pheromone compounds under laboratory conditions. Observations of nocturnal reproductive behavior of males and females were performed for 7 days in order to register the courtship, mating, and oviposition time. Once the period of the highest reproductive activity was identified, flight behavior and attraction of virgin males were evaluated in a wind tunnel towards synthetic compounds previously reported as commercial pheromones for Copitarsia species, namely (Z)-tetradec-9-enyl acetate (Z9-14Ac), (Z)-tetradec-9-enol (Z9-14OH), and their mixture (Z9-14Ac + Z9-14OH at 4:1 ratio), in comparison with virgin females and clean air flow. We observed that reproductive behavior occurs during the first third of the scotophase and begins on the second day after adult emergence. Highest proportion of courtship and mating occurs on days 2 and 3 after emergence, and oviposition starts the night immediately after the first mating. Wind tunnel assessments showed that males were highly attracted to calling females compared with the blend of synthetic pheromone compounds, with 89% and 12% of males landing at the source, respectively. Moreover, males also showed a low response to the isolated compounds (Z9-14Ac 14% and Z9-14OH 4%).
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria Agrosavia for their support during the experimental execution of the wind tunnel assays.
Funding
This study received financial support from the Universidad Militar Nueva Granada (UMNG) through the project INV-CIAS-2055, granted by Vicerrectoría De Investigaciones at UMNG, validity- 2016.
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PAV participated in the study design, performed the tests, and helped on data and manuscript writing. DPM planned the project and participated in test design and data analysis. She also helped with manuscript writing. FRT helped with the equipment standardization and data analysis and contributed to the identification of the behavioral variables to be evaluated. ECB conceived the study, guided the pheromone compounds treatment and utilization on assays, and participated in the statistical data analysis and posterior text revision. DRC as the Head of Biological Control Laboratory conceived the study, got the financial support, and participated in the statistical data analysis and posterior text drafting. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Altamar-Varón, P., Pérez-Maldonado, D., Rivera Trujillo, F. et al. Reproductive Behavior of Copitarsia uncilata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Neotrop Entomol 49, 353–360 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-020-00764-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-020-00764-z