PRE-MATING SEXUAL ACTIVITY OF GYPSY MOTH MALES IN SMALL PLOT FIELD TESTS (LYMANTRIA (= PORTHETRIA) DISPAR (L.): LYMANTRIIDAE)

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Abstract
Pre-mating behavior of male gypsy moths was investigated in 0.2 ha circular plots containing from 0 to 72 virgin females/plot in untreated areas and in areas treated with an aerial application of 20 g/ha microencapsulated disparlure. Male moths in both treated and untreated plots oriented initially to trees, not directly to females. Mating was disrupted in treated plots but males continued search behavior. No anemotactic behavior was evident in either treated plots or untreated plots with females. In untreated plots, male moths were not caught on sticky panels (panels suspended at 2, 4, and 6 m) higher than pheromone baited traps set at 2 m. In treated plots, equal number of males were caught at all panel heights and in baited traps at 2 m. Previous mating and pheromone exposure histories of males did not affect the response of these males to traps baited with 4–5 mg of disparlure in untreated plots. In a test of the relative attractiveness of a cotton wick and a new laminated bait dispenser in Johnson traps, traps baited with the laminated dispenser had a greater male moth catch/male contact to trap than the traps baited with the cotton wick. Not all males contacting the Johnson trap were caught. A mode of action for disparlure as a disruptive agent in the long range sexual communication system of gypsy moth is proposed.