A Diversity of Moths (Lepidoptera) Trapped with Two Feeding Attractants

Abstract

Feeding attractants for moths are useful as survey tools to assess moth species diversity and for monitoring of the relative abundance of certain pest species. We assessed the relative breadth of attractiveness of two such lures to moths, at sites with varied habitats during 2006. Eighty-six of the 114 species of Lepidoptera captured were in traps baited with acetic acid plus 3-methyl-1-butanol (AAMB), a moth lure that is based on the odor chemistry of fermented molasses baits. Fifty-two of the 114 species were trapped with a floral odorant lure comprised of phenylacetaldehyde, β-myrcene, methyl salicylate, and methyl-2-methoxy benzoate. Preference for one lure type was statistically supported for 10 species of moths: seven to the AAMB lure and three to the floral lure. To gain better information on lure preference, 10 pairs of traps baited with the same lures were maintained in a single habitat type (riparian) during 2008. Sixty-eight of 89 species captured were in traps baited with AAMB, and 43 were in traps baited with the floral lure. Preference for a lure type was statistically supported for 39 of the 89 species of moths trapped; 32 to the AAMB lure and seven to the floral lure. Both of these lures hold advantages for trapping different types of moths, and both lures might be used in a complementary way to sample moth biodiversity.