Using pear ester to monitor codling moth in sex pheromone treated orchards

Abstract

Pear ester is a characteristic pear flavor attractive to codling moth (i.e., a kairomone). Traps baited with a pear ester lure can be used to monitor male and female adult codling moth activity. Pear ester is a natural volatile produced by ripening pears. Male and female codling moths have specialized receptors on their antennae that can detect pear ester. Male moths respond to pear ester while searching for a host where female moths will be available for mating. Female codling moths also use the pear ester to locate the host, and mated females use the pear ester to locate specific sites to lay eggs near or on fruit. Other host-produced chemicals can affect the behavior of codling moth, but no other compound tested so far has proven to be as attractive and chemically stable as pear ester.