A pheromone trap for dispersal of the pathogen Zoophthora radicans Brefeld. (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales) amongst populations of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae)

TLDR: This work shows the potential of this strategy for disseminating Z. radicans in populations of P. xylostella and could be considered as a model system with implications for other pest species where a pheromone and virulent pathogen are known.

Abstract: A sex pheromone trap designed as a novel pathogen delivery system is described. The strategy envisaged for its use is that male Plutella xylostella moths attracted to the pheromone enter the trap and are dosed with the fungus Zoophthora radicans. After habituation to the pheromone, the moths leave the trap and disperse to the crop carrying the fungal inoculum to susceptible larvae, thus initiating or enhancing an epizootic. A fluorescent marker in the trap was used to demonstrate that moths entered and exited from the trap and carried particles to crop plants at least 5 m away. As a preliminary study, this work shows the potential of this strategy for disseminating Z. radicans in populations of P. xylostella In addition, it could be considered as a model system with implications for other pest species where a pheromone and virulent pathogen are known.