Noctuid moths

Even more extraordinary, the authors presented evidence that the attractant mixture produced may vary with time both within and between individuals, suggesting that the spiders have some degree of control over the composition of the blend. This would explain why at least 19 different moth species are captured by M. cornigera, even when compounds that attract one species are known to be inhibitory to a second prey species. For example, the noctuid moth Peridroma saucia is attracted to blends of 16 and 18, but attraction is inhibited by 17. This type of situation is well documented with lepidopteran sex pheromones and is one of the mechanisms that allows related species to share some pheromone components while still maintaining species-specific attractant blends (Roelofs, 1995). Thus, M. cornigera must... 

Birch, M. C. (1972). Male abdominal brush-organs in British noctuid moths and their value as a taxonomic character. Part II. The Entomologist 105 233-244. 

Clearwater J. R. and Sarafis V. (1973) The secretory cycle of a gland involved in pheromone production in the Noctuid moth, Pseudaletia separata. J. Insect Physiol. 19, 19-28. 

Teal P. E. A. and Tumlinson J. H. (1987) The role of alcohols in pheromone biosynthesis by two noctuid moths that use acetate pheromone components. Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology 4, 261-269. 

Callahan F. E., Vogt R. G., Tucker M. L., Dickens J. C. and Mattoo A. K. (2000) High level expression of male specific pheromone binding proteins (PBPs) in the antennae of female noctuid moths. Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol. 30, 507-514. 

Klun J. A., Potts W. J. E. and Oliver J. E. (1996) Four species of noctuid moths degrade sex pheromone by a common antennal metabolic pathway. J. Entomol. Sci. 31, 404 113. 

Zhang S.-G., Maida R. and Steinbrecht R. A. (2001) Immunolocalization of odorantbinding proteins in noctuid moths (Insecta, Lepidoptera). Chem. Senses 26, 885-896. 

Maibeche-Coisne M., Jacquin-Joly E., Frangois M.C. and Nagnan-Le Meillour P. (2002) Molecular cloning of two novel cytochrome P450 cDNAs, CYP4L4 and CYP4S4, differentially expressed in the antennae of the noctuid moth Mamestra brassicae. Insect Molec. Biol. 11, 273-281. 

Nonadecatriene and enantiomers of (3Z,9Z)-cis-6,7-epoxy-nonadecadiene as sex attractants for two geometrid and one noctuid moth species../. Chem. Ecol., 16, 2153-2166. 

Millar, J.G., Giblin, M Barton, D Wong, J. W. and Underhill, E. W. (1991). Sex attractants and sex pheromone components of noctuid moths Euclidea cuspidea, Caenurgina distincta, and geometrid moth Eupithecia annulata. J. Chem. Ecol., 17, 2095-2111. 

Table 18.3 Polyene hydrocarbons, epoxides, and related compounds known or suspected as sex pheromones for noctuid moths. Compounds in bold have been found in pheromone gland extracts or aeration extracts and have been shown to be active in behavioral bioassays or field trials, compounds in normal font have been found in pheromone gland or aeration extracts, compounds in italics have been shown to attract males infield screening trials, and underlined compounds have been shown to be antagonistic.

Ando, T., Kishi, H., Akashio, N., Qin, X.R., Saito, N., Abe, H. and Hashimoto, S. (1995). Sex attractants of geometrid and noctuid moths chemical characterization and field test of monoepoxides of 6,9-dienes and related compounds../. Client Ecol., 21, 299-311. 

Cao, W. H., Charlton, R.E., Nechols, J. R. and Horak, M. J. (2003). Sex pheromone of the noctuid moth, Tyta luctuosa (Lepidoptera Noctuidae), a candidate biological control agent of field bindweed. Em. Entomol., 32,17-22. 

Sex attractants for geometrid and noctuid moths. Field trapping and electroantennographic responses to triene hydrocarbons and monoepoxydiene derivatives. /. Chem. Ecol., 11, 727-756. 

Tertiary pheromonal blends have been identified in two noctuid moths. The red bollworm, Diparopsis castanea, emits dodecyl acetate, (E)-9-dodecenyl acetate, 11-dodecenyl acetate, and (E)-9,ll-dodecadienyl acetate as a sex pheromone, whereas Spodoptera littoral is utilizes a blend made up of tetradecyl acetate, (E)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, (E)-ll-tetradecenyl acetate, and (Z,E)-9,ll-tetradecadieny1 acetate (89). For both species, the conjugated dienes are the most potent olfactory stimulants. 

Male moths and butterflies have proven to be an especially rich source of interesting natural products. The sex pheromone produced in the wing glands of the lesser waxmoth, Achroia grisella, is composed of n-undecanal and (Zj-ll-octadecenal (98), whereas that of the greater waxmoth also contains n-undecanal (.99) but is dominated by n-nonanal (100). The scent brushes of male noctuid moths produce large amounts of aromatic compounds and terpenes which are believed to function as aphrodisiacs (101). Benzaldehyde, 2-phenyl ethanol, benzyl alcohol, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, pinocarvone, and isobutyric acid have been identified in the secretions of different noctuid species (102), and it appears that these pheromones may possess some chemotaxonomic value. 

These initial studies were performed on isolated species from families which have distinct types of components. Systematic studies on biosynthesis by phylogenically related insects were not undertaken until the works by Roelofs and Brown (11) and Steck et al. (12) outlined the analogies in pheromones used by Tortricidae and Noctuidae respectively. The significant feature of these pheromones is that most of the Tortricinae use 14-carbon compounds with a double bond at the 11 position whereas the majority of identified compounds from noctuid moths have a double bond between the 5th and 6th carbons from the terminal methyl group (ie. 7-dodecenyl, 9-tetradecenyl, ll-hexadecenyl). 

Members of the Heliothis genus of noctuid moths have been the subjects of considerable study in our laboratory over the past 10 years not only because of their economic importance, but also because of the ability to hybridize two of the species, H. subflexa and H. virescens. Since members of this genus use variations of the same types of compounds for pheromone communication a commonality in the biosynthetic capability of these insects seems indicated (Table I). 

Tachinids parasitize winter moth caterpillars, codling moth caterpillars, noctuid moths, small ermine moths, beetle larvae. 

Larvae the larvae of the noctuid moths have the same number of thoracic legs and abdominal feet as the tortrix caterpillars, but their head is rounded and the mouth parts point downwards. When the caterpillar is disturbed it curls up in a C shape. 

Noctuid moths are polyphagous, i.e. they also develop in many different types of broad-leaved trees (oak, lime, poplar, etc.), from which they can fly into the orchard in spring. 

CONTROL. Noctuid moths often occur in concentrations around a focal point, and severe damage may be caused within such a concentration. Orchards near to woodland and forests are especially at risk. 

DIRECT. Pyrethrum-rotenone sprays have some effect on noctuid moths. At high temperatures Bacillus thuringiensis formulations also have some effect on noctuid moths (50% effect). 

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