Journal of Applied Entomology (2019) 143, 1193-1195

Per Heydorn, Olle Anderbrant, Lars J. Jonsson and Glenn P. Svensson (2019)
Long-term rearing affects pheromone-mediated flight behaviour of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella
Journal of Applied Entomology 143 (10), 1193-1195
Abstract: The pest Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) is reared in many research laboratories. In a culture established in 1996, attraction of males to the female-produced sex pheromone in flight tunnel assays gradually decreased after ~15 years of rearing. A new culture was established to enable comparison with the old culture regarding traits associated with mate finding. Female calling activity, pheromone titre and male antennal response to pheromone components did not differ between cultures. In contrast, very few males from the old culture reached the pheromone source in flight tunnel assays compared with 61%–81% of males from the other culture. Our results highlight the importance of maintaining viable insect cultures for research purposes and suggest frequent evaluation of traits involved in chemical communication in such cultures to ensure reliable results in experiments.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Olle Anderbrant, Glenn P. Svensson

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
rearing/culturing/mass production
pheromones/attractants/traps

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Plodia interpunctella