WO2007053926A1

WO2007053926A1 - Pheromonal and sonic signals for monitoring and control of peach twig borers

Info

Publication number: WO2007053926A1
Application number: PCT/CA2005/001713
Authority: WO
Inventors: Melanie Hart; Stephen TAKÁCS; Gerhard Gries
Original assignee: Melanie Hart; Takacs Stephen; Gerhard Gries
Priority date: 2005-11-09
Filing date: 2005-11-09
Publication date: 2007-05-18

Abstract

This invention relates to a composition and procedure for manipulating behaviour of the peach twig borer, Anarsia lineatella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). In particular, this invention relates to using specific semiochemical and sonic signals for modifying the behaviour of the peach twig borer. The invention also relates to a composition of pheromonal and sonic signals for manipulating the behaviour of male A. lineatella, said composition comprising pheromone components (E)-5-decenyl acetate (E5-10:OAc) and (E)-5-decenol (E5-10:OH), and a sonic signal comprising one or more frequencies in all possible combinations and ratios selected from the group consisting of: 61 ± 10 Hz; 5 ± 5 kHz; 12 ± 5 kHz.

Description

PHEROMONAL AND SONIC SIGNALS FOR MONITORING AND CONTROL OF PEACH TWIG BORERS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a composition and procedure for manipulating behaviour of the peach twig borer, Anarsia lineatella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). In particular, this invention relates to using specific semiochemical and sonic signals for modifying the behaviour of the peach twig borer.

BACKROUND OF THE INVENTION

The peach twig borer, A. lineatella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a major pest of almonds, and stone fruits such as nectarines, peaches, plums, and apricots. Larvae emerge in spring from overwintering sites, mine developing shoots and cause wilt, and even tree death in young plants. Summer generation larvae feed on the twigs and fruit. Damage inflicted by larvae causes millions of dollars in lost revenue in North America alone.

Insecticides target adult A. lineatella. Physical control methods include pruning damaged shoots and removing infested fruit from trees and from the orchard ground.

The sex pheromone emitted by female A. lineatella was identified as (£)-5-decenyl acetate and (£)-5-decenol (Roelofs et al., 1975). Baits with synthetic pheromone are deployed in traps for monitoring.^, lineatella populations in commercial orchards. However, traps baited with live female A. lineatella are more attractive to male moths than those baited with synthetic pheromone, suggesting that females use additional, as yet unknown, communication signals.

Several patents relate to A. lineatella informally known as the peach twig borer. Some of these patents are concerned with using Bacillus thuringiensis for peach twig borer control, or modifying plants to be more resistant to peach twig borer attack. US Patent No. 6,516,558 (Lingren and Lenker, 2003), describes a trap design for capturing moths. No patent claims the use of sonic signals, alone or in combination with pheromone components, to manipulate the behaviour of A. lineatella.

The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related thereto are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements.

We reveal sonic and ultrasonic signals produced (dominant frequencies: 60 ± 10 Hz; 1.2 kHz ± 5 kHz; 2.25 ± 5 kHz; 53 + 5 kHz) by male A. lineatella which reduce pheromone emission by females. We also reveal sonic signals (dominant frequencies: 61 + 10 Hz; 5 + 5 kHz; 12 + 5 kHz) produced by female A. lineatella which enhance the attractiveness of the sex pheromone to mate-foraging males.

The essence of this invention is the preparation and implementation of these stimuli for modifying the behaviour of A. lineatella. Stimuli can be used in all possible combinations. Stimuli compositions can be emitted from sonic microchips and contained in slow release devices. Devices can be affixed to traps to capture male A. lineatella. Devices that emit stimuli that disorient male A. lineatella or provoke reduction in pheromone emission by female A. lineatella can be affixed to trees. The invention can be utilized as a diagnostic tool to facilitate decisions whether and when control of A. lineatella is needed.

The invention is directed to a composition of stimuli for manipulating the behaviour of male A. lineatella, said composition comprising stimuli in all possible combinations selected from the group consisting of (E)-5-decenyl acetate (E5-10:OAc) and (£)-5-decenol (£5-10:OH), and a sonic signal of one or more frequencies in all possible combinations and ratios selected from the group consisting of 61 + 10 Hz; 5 + 5 kHz; and 12 + 5 kHz.

The invention is also directed to sonic signals for reducing pheromone emission by female A. lineatella. The sonic signals comprise one or more frequencies in all possible combinations and ratios selected from the group consisting of 60 + 10 Hz; 2.5 + 5 kHz; and 53 + 5 kHz. The composition can be held in, or emitted from sonic microchips and slow release devices. The composition can be contained in, and released from, a trap that captures attracted A lineatella.

The sonic signal can be generated by a sonic apparatus contained in, or associated with, a trap that captures attracted A lineatella. The sonic apparatus can be an electronically activated sonic microchip.

The sonic and ultrasonic signal can be generated by a sonic or ultrasonic apparatus placed by itself, or in a trap that captures attracted A. lineatella. The sonic and ultrasonic apparatus can be an electronically activated sonic and ultrasonic microchip. The apparatus can contain an insect-capturing adhesive.

The invention is also directed to a bait and trap for deployment in an area containing host species of A. lineatella, said bait incorporating a sonic signal, or a combination of pheromonal and sonic signals according to the invention, and a trap that can have openings which enable male A. lineatella to enter the trap and a barrier or retainer that prevents male A. lineatella from leaving the trap.

The invention also pertains to a method of manipulating the behaviour of A lineatella, which comprises exposing A. lineatella to one or more sonic, ultrasonic, and pheromonal signals according to the invention.

The invention also pertains to a method of diagnosing whether protection of susceptible plants is warranted, comprising exposing susceptible plants to the invention and determining whether any A. lineatella are present.

The invention includes a method of protecting plants from attack by A. lineatella by deploying proximate to susceptible plants sonic, ultrasonic, and pheromonal signals, according to the invention.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of me following detailed descriptions. DRAWINGS

Drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention, but should not be regarded as restricting the scope of the invention in any way:

FIG. 1 illustrates waveform (a), frequency (b), and time-frequency sound intensity (c) of sonic and ultrasonic signals recorded from male A. lineatella.

FIG. 2 illustrates waveform (a), frequency (b), and time-frequency sound intensity (c) of sonic and ultrasonic signals recorded from female A . lineatella.

FIG. 3 illustrates graphical data of pheromone emission by female A. lineatella when exposed to sonic and ultrasonic signals produced by male A. lineatella or to a silent control stimulus.

FIG. 4 illustrates graphical data of pheromone emission by female A. lineatella when exposed to white noise or to a silent control stimulus.

FIG. 5 illustrates graphical data of captures of male A. lineatella in traps baited with synthetic pheromone alone, or in combination with played-back sonic and ultrasonic signals from female A. lineatella; almond orchard, Willows, California.

FIG. 6. illustrates graphical data of captures of male A. lineatella in traps baited with synthetic pheromone alone, or in combination with a played-back sonic signal from female A. lineatella; apricot orchard, Cawston, British Columbia.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced without these particulars. In other instances, well-known elements have not been included or described in detail to avoid obscuring the invention. Accordingly, specifications and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense. 1. Acquisition and Analysis of Sonic and Ultrasonic Signals Produced by Male A. lineatella

Sonic signals produced by male A. lineatella exposed to synthetic pheromone were recorded to hard disk by a Panasonic CF-47 Toughbook equipped with data acquisition boards (DAQ, NI; 6062E; 12 bit, 500 kHz maximum sampling rate, at 200 kHz sampling rate). Recordings employed an ultrasonic microphone (BT 1759 High Performance Microphone; sensitivity 40 mV/Pa; frequency response characters 100 Hz to 10 kHz; Knowles Acoustics, Itasca, Illinois, USA), and signal amplification of 800 times with a differential amplifier (NI; SC 2040) and a sam- pling frequency of 43.2 kHz. In this description, the term "ultrasonic" refers to frequencies higher than about 20 kHz. Sonic and ultrasonic signals recorded from male A. lineatella consisted of four dominant frequencies at 60 ± 10 Hz (with a first harmonic at 180 Hz, and a second harmonic at 300 Hz); 1.2 kHz ± 5 kHz; 2.25 + 5 kHz (with a first harmonic at 5 + 5 kHz), and 53 + 5 kHz (with no harmonic detected) (FIG.1) .

FIG. 1 illustrates the waveform (a), frequency (b), and time-frequency sound intensity (c) of sonic and ultrasonic signals recorded from male A. lineatella. The greater the shading in diagram c, the more intense the frequency component of the signal.

2. Acquisition and Analysis of Sonic Signals Produced by Female A. lineatella Sonic signals produced by individual female A. lineatella were recorded to hard disk by a Panasonic CF-47 Toughbook equipped with data acquisition boards (DAQ, NI; 6062E; 12 bit, 500 kHz maximum sampling rate, at 100 kHz sampling rate). Recordings employed an AKG CK 61 -ULS condenser microphone (sensitivity: 20.0 mV/Pa; frequency response characteristics: 20 Hz - 20 kHz; AKG Acoustics, Nashville, Tennessee, USA) and signal amplification from 200 to 800 times with a differential amplifier (NI; SC-2040) and a sampling frequency of 100 kHz.

Sonic signals recorded from female A. lineatella had the following dominant frequencies: 61 + 10 Hz; 4 ± 5 kHz (with harmonics at 8 + 5 kHz); 12 + 5 kHz (with harmonics at 32 + 5 kHz).

FIG. 2 illustrates the waveform (a), frequency (b), and time-frequency sound intensity (c) of sonic signals produced by female A. lineatella. The more intense the shading in diagram c, the more intense the frequency component of the signal. 3. Development of an Effective Bait for Attraction of Male A. lineatella Experiments 3 and 4 were conducted in almond orchards in Willows, California (Exp. 3), and apricot orchards in Cawston, British Columbia (Exp. 4). Experiments employed paired traps in each of three trees with 1 m between paired traps and 20 m between trap pairs. Traps were made of 2 L milk cartons (Gray et al., 1984), coated on the inside with adhesive (The Tanglefoot Co., Michigan, USA). Traps were suspended 1-1.5 m above ground in a straight line, with a single "guard" trap at the beginning and end of the line. By random assignment, one of the two paired traps was baited with a rubber septum (The West Company, Pennsyl- vania) impregnated with £5-10:OAc (1,000 μg) and £5-10:OH (100 μg) ( = stimulus 1) and the other with stimulus 1 plus played back sound recorded from female A. lineatella. The speakers for played back sound were connected to one of three laptop computers and amplifier systems, supplied with electricity from line-powered AC current (120 volts) (Cawston) or battery (MotoMaster Eliminator, Canadian Tire Corporation Ltd., Toronto, Canada) (Willows). Experiments were run from dusk until dawn (Cawston) and from midnight until dawn (Willows). Traps and functioning of sound equipment were checked at dusk (Cawston), and at 24:00, 03:00 and dawn (Cawston and Willows). Six and 12 trap-pair replicates were run in Willows and Cawston, respectively. Trap captures of moths were analyzed using ANOVA (α = 0.05) (JMP 5.1).

EXAMPLE #1

In experiment 1, 8-14 virgin female A. lineatella were placed in each of two paired Pyrex glass aeration chambers. In each of 6 replicates, one of two stimuli was randomly applied to each chamber: 1) recordings of sonic signals from male A. lineatella; and 2) a silent control stimulus. Recordings were digitally filtered and played back at biologically relevant levels (10 dB at 1 cm) through Sennheisser HV 70 headphone speakers using programs developed in Lab VIEW (NI) for the DAQ boards. Recordings (8 seconds) were automatically rerun, with one second of intermittent silence, during the 1-hour bioassay period.

Airflow of ~2 L per minute was maintained through each chamber, and pheromone emitted from females during 1 hour of simulated dawn was captured on Porapak Q inside glass tubing connected downwind to the aeration chamber. Pheromone was eluted from Porapak Q with pentane, and an internal standard was added to the Porapak Q extract. Extracts were then analyzed by coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Saturn 2000 Ion Trap GC-US) to quantify the amount of pheromonal E5-10:OAc. Females exposed to played-back sonic and ultrasonic signals from males emitted significantly less j_i5-10:OAc than females exposed to a silent control stimulus (FIG. 3).

FIG. 3 illustrates graphical data of the mean amount of pheromonal

(E)-5-decenyl acetate emitted by groups of 8-14 female A. lineatella exposed to either played-back sonic signals from male A. lineatella or to a silent control stimulus. Pheromone emission in response to treatment or control stimuli was significantly different; 6 replicates; Wilcoxin signed rank test; P < 0.05.

EXAMPLE # 2

In experiment 2, the experimental design was identical to that of experiment 1, except that female A. lineatella were exposed to either white noise (instead of played-back sonic and ultrasonic signals from males), or to silence. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean amount of E5-10:OAc emitted by females exposed to either treatment or control stimuli (FIG. 4).

FIG. 4 illustrates graphical data of the mean amount of (E)-5-decenyl acetate emitted by groups of 8-14 female A. lineatella exposed to white noise or a silent control. Pheromone emission in response to treatment and control stimuli was not significantly different; 6 replicates; Wilcoxin signed rank test; P > 0.05.

EXAMPLE # 3

In experiment 3 in a commercial almond orchard in Willows, California, significantly more male A. lineatella were captured in traps baited with synthetic pheromone (£5-10:OAc and £5-10:OH) plus played-back sonic signals from females than in traps baited with synthetic pheromone alone (FIG. 5).

FIG. 5 illustrates graphical data of captures of male A. lineatella in experi- ment 3 in traps baited with either synthetic pheromone components (£)-5-decenyl acetate (1,000 μg) (£5-10:OAc) and (E)-5-decenol (100 μg) (£5-10:OH), or with synthetic £5-10:OAc (1,000 μg) and £5-10:OH (100 μg) plus played-back sonic signals from female A. lineatella. Commercial almond orchard, Willows, California; 24 June to 1 July, 2004; ό replicates; the asterisk indicates a significant response to a particular treatment; Anova; P < 0.05. EXAMPLE # 4

In experiment 4 in a commercial apricot orchard in Cawston, British Columbia, significantly more male A. lineatella were captured in traps baited with synthetic pheromone (E5-10:OAc and E5-10:OH) plus played-back sonic signals from females than in traps baited with synthetic pheromone alone (FIG. 6).

FIG. 6 illustrates graphical data of captures of male A. lineatella in experiment 4 in traps baited with either synthetic pheromone components (E)-5-decenyl acetate (1,000 μg) (E5-10:OAc) and (£)-5-decenol (100 μg) (£5-10:OH) or with synthetic E5-10:OAc (1,000 μg) and £5-10:OH (100 μg) plus played-back sonic signals from female A. lineatella. Commercial apricot orchard, Cawston, British Columbia; 28 July to 18 August, 2004; 12 replicates; the asterisk indicates a significant response to a particular treatment; Anova; P < 0.05.

While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.

References

Gray, T. G., Slessor, K. N., Shepherd, R. F., Grant, G. G. and Manville, J.F. (1984). European pine shoot moth, Rhyacionia buolina (Lepidoptera: Torticidae): Identification of additional pheromone components resulting in an improved lure. Can. Entomol. 116, 1525-1532.

JMP IN 5.1. (2003). SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina.

Lingren, B. W. and Lenker, D. H. (2003). Insect trap and assembly for capturing and monitoring insects. Patent # 6,516,558. Appl. No.: 574562: Filed: May 17, 2000. Assignee: Trece lnc. (Salinas, CA).

Roelofs, W., Kochowsky, J., Anthon, E., Rice, R. and Carde, R. (1975). Sex pheromone of the peach twig borer (Anarsia Hneatellά). Environ. Entomol. 4, 580-582.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A composition of pheromonal and sonic signals for manipulating the behaviour of male A. lineatella, said composition comprising pheromone components (£)-5-decenyl acetate (£5-10:OAc) and (£)-5-decenol (E5-10:OH), and a sonic signal comprising one or more frequencies in all possible combinations and ratios selected from the group consisting of: 61 + 10 Hz; 5 + 5 kHz; 12 ± 5 kHz.

2. Sonic and ultrasonic signals for manipulating emission of pheromone by female A lineatella, said signals comprising one or more frequencies in all possible combinations and ratios selected from the group consisting of: 60 ± 10 Hz; 1.2 kHz ±5 kHz; 2.25 ± 5 kHz; 53 + 5 kHz.

3. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the composition is contained in, and released from, slow release devices.

4. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the composition is contained in, and released from, a trap that captures attracted /!, lineatella.

5. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sonic signal is generated by a sonic and ultrasonic apparatus contained in, or associated with, a trap that captures attracted A lineatella.

6. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sonic apparatus is an electronically activated sonic microchip.

7. A composition as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sonic apparatus is an electronically activated sonic microchip.

8. A composition as claimed in claim 5 wherein the sonic and ultrasonic apparatus is an electronically activated sonic and ultrasonic microchip.

9. An apparatus for attracting male A. lineatella, said apparatus containing a composition comprising pheromone components E5-10:OAc and £5-10:OH, and a sonic signal comprising one or more frequencies in all possible combinations and ratios selected from the group consisting of: 61 + 10 Hz; 5 + 5 kHz; 12 + 5 kHz.

10. An apparatus for reducing emission of pheromone by female A. lineatella, said apparatus containing sonic and ultrasonic signals comprising one or more frequencies in all possible combinations and ratios selected from the group consisting of: 60 ± 10 Hz; 1.2 kHz ± 5 kHz; 2.25 ± 5 kHz; 53 ± 5 kHz.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the apparatus contains an insect-capturing adhesive.

12. A male A. lineatella bait and trap for deployment in an area containing host trees of A. lineatella, said bait incorporating a composition of pheromonal and sonic signals as claimed in claim 1, and said trap having at least one opening that enables the moths to enter the trap and a barrier or retainer that prevents the moths from leaving the trap.

13. A method of manipulating the behaviour of male A. lineatella with sonic signals as claimed in claim 1.

14. A method of manipulating the behaviour of female A. lineatella with sonic and ultrasonic signals as claimed in claim 2.

15. A method of manipulating the behaviour of male A. lineatella that comprises exposing the insects to one or more pheromonal and sonic signals as claimed in claim 1.

16. A method of diagnosing whether protection of plants fed upon by A. lineatella larvae is warranted, comprising exposing the host plants to a composition as claimed in claim 1 and determining whether any A. lineatella are attracted by the composition.

17. A method of protecting host plants of A. lineatella from attack by male A. lineatella by deploying proximate to the plants a composition as claimed in claim 1.

18. A method of protecting host plants of A. lineatella from attack by female A. lineaiella by deploying proximate to the plants a composition as claimed in claim 2.