• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.161-169
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• 2023

Thrips are usually not exposed to insecticide spray due to hiding at holes, gaps, or crevices of host plants with their relatively small body sizes. This study devised a strategy to use a contact pheromone to suppress the seclusive behavior of the thrips, A contact pheromone identified as 7-methyltricosane (7TM) in the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, was added to the diet to test the preference of the thrips. Although 7TM did not change the larval behavior, it significantly induced the avoiding behavior in male adults. In contrast, the contact pheromone was preferred by the female adults. Similar behavioral changes were also observed in another flower thrips, Frankliniella intonsa. Based on the behavioral changes induced by the contact pheromone, a mixture of 7TM and insecticide was applied to thrips infesting hot peppers in field conditions. Compared to spinetoram treatment, its mixture treatment with 7TM enhanced the control efficacy against thrips. Interestingly, 7TM treatment alone also gave slight reduction in F. intonsa density, suggesting a behavioral disruption of thrips by the contact pheromone. This study suggests a novel technology to control insect pests using contact pheromone by suppressing the seclusive behavior to avoid exposure to insecticide spray.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2003

The population density of the Cotton caterpillar, Palpita indica (Saunder) larvae was gradually increased until 10th October and then decreased rapidly after that time at the watermelon culture of rain sheltered house. After 15th October, many larvae went to soil and molted to pupae for the hibernation. Most of pupae were found in pF 2.4 soil moisture condition, but none in pF 1.5 hydro-morphic soil. Most of the pupae were found below 5cm and there was no pupa below 10cm from the soil surface. The sex ratio of the overwintering pupae was 1.09 : 1.00. For the monitoring of the cotton caterpillar adults using sex pheromone compounds, different mixture ratios of each pheromone compound were investigated with (E)-11-hexadecenal and (E, E)-10,12-hexadecadienal. Seven versus three ratio of (I)-11-hexadecenal and (E, E) -10,12-hexadecadienal was more attractive than any other ratio, and then followed by 6 : 4, 8 : 2, 9 : 1, and 5 : 5 mixtures. As a result of monitoring with 7 : 3 mixture of (E)-11-hexadecenal and (E, E)-10,12-hexadecadienal, occurrence peaks of cotton caterpillar adults showed 4 times per year. The first time of adult appearance was late July in 2000 and middle July in 2001 and the highest number was collected on late September.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.435-445
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• 2008

Due to internal feeding behavior, the oriental tobacco budworm, Helicoverpa assulta ($Guen\acute{e}e$), infesting hot pepper has been regarded to be effectively controlled by targeting egg and neonate larval stages just before entering the fruits. This study aimed to develop an efficient biological control method focusing on these susceptible stages of H. assulta. An egg parasitoid wasp, Trichogramma evanescens Westwood, was confirmed to parasitize the eggs of H. assulta. A mixture of Gram-positive soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, and Gram-negative entomopathogenic bacterium, Xenorhabdus nematophila ANU101, could effectively kill neonate larvae of H. assulta. A sex pheromone trap monitored the occurrence of field H. assulta adults. The microbial insecticide mixture was proved to give no detrimental effects on immature development and adult survival of the wasp by both feeding and contact toxicity tests. A combined treatment of egg parasitoid and microbial pesticide was applied to hot pepper fields infested by H. assulta. The mixture treatment of both biological control agents significantly decreased the fruit damage, which was comparable to the chemical insecticide treatment, though either single biological control agent did not show any significant control efficacy. This study also provides morphological and genetic characters of T. evanescens.