Pheromones and kairomones for detection and control of indoor pyralid moths

Abstract:
Three pyralid moths, the Mediterranean flour moth (Ephestia kuehniella), the almond moth (Ephestia cautella) and the Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella), infest food products all over the world and cause severe problems in factories, shops and households. For health and environmental reasons chemical control becomes more and more restricted. We here present some promising results offering efficient detection and control of these species based on semiochemicals. The pheromone mating disruption technique (MD) was employed in three mills, a chocolate factory, a pet shop and in a pet food warehouse during 7-21 months, including localities with infestations of all three species. Catches of monitoring traps decreased instantaneously and measured air concentrations of the main pheromone component, released form the MD-dispensers, increased immediately. Fewer moths were observed in the localities and the number of complaints from customers of mill products decreased. In the chocolate factory, it was possible to use traps baited with water to obtain an additional and independent measurement of the E. cautella population level. Catches in these traps showed a decrease in population density. From the MD-experiments we can conclude that this technique has a large potential for controlling all three moth species. For more efficient monitoring and evaluation of control measures, we have done a series of studies to improve pheromone traps and to make trapping of E. kuehniella and P. interpunctella females possible (E. cautella females are readily caught by water traps). Improved pheromone baits for E. cautella and P. interpunctella and potential female attractant blends will be presented.