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10-Minute Presentation

Plant-Insect Ecosystems

10-min: P-IE, IPM - Horticulture 2

Impact of size on mating preference of navel orangeworm (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and implications for sterile insect technique

Tuesday, November 12, 2024
8:00 AM – 8:12 AM MST
Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 127 C, PCC
Oral Presentation
The navel orangeworm (NOW), is a major insect pest of California almonds, pistachios, and walnuts. The use of the sterile insect technique is under development for future use as part of an integrated pest management program for this insect. Mating selection of this insect can have implications for the application of this technique in the field, which aims to mass-produce sterile moths that are competitive when released into the wild. Moreover, the density of insects in the diet under rearing conditions can affect the adult size of the organisms. We aim to evaluate if size and weight have an impact on mating selection of a locally reared Phoenix strain of NOW. To study female selection, we placed a female with five males in a cage, and for male selection, we placed a male with five females. The insects were checked for mating within an interval no longer than 10 minutes. Time was recorded when a pair was observed in copula and insects were immediately isolated in cups. Measurements of head length and width, body length, and right forewing length and width were taken. Dry weight was obtained for all insects. Statistical analyses evaluated differences between mated and unmated insects.