Screening and evaluation of plant-derived attractants for Loxostege sticticalis adult management

The Loxostege sticticalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a major migratory pest of agriculture and animal husbandry in Asia and Europe. Utilizing plant volatile organic compounds (pVOCs) as attractants for monitoring and controlling pests is considered an environmentally friendly and effective method. However, limited knowledge exists regarding applying pVOCs to manage L. sticticalis. Here, volatile compounds released by Chenopodium album, Setaria viridis, and Medicago sativa, the three preferred oviposition plants for L. sticticalis females, were collected using dynamic headspace sampling techniques. A total of 55 distinct compounds were identified through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and 16 compounds in the concentration range from 0.001 to 100 µg µL^–1 elicited consistently enhanced electrophysiological responses in both male and female L. sticticalis. Subsequently, the attraction potential of four bioactive compounds- linalool, cis-anethole, trans-2-hexenal, and 1-octen-3-ol- were further confirmed by indoor behavioral bioassays. The blends of linalool, cis-anethole, trans-2-hexenal, and 1-octen-3-ol mixed at ratios of 5:1:5:10 (formulation No. 25) and 5:1:1:10 (formulation No. 21) were highly attractive to L. sticticalis adults. Field-trapping assays indicated that lure No. 2 baited with formulation 21 demonstrated superior efficacy in field trapping. These findings suggest that pVOC-based attractants can be effectively employed for monitoring and mass trapping L. sticticalis adults, providing insights into the development of botanical attractants.