Cross-attractancy and cross-mating between the red bollworm Diparopsis castanea Hmps. and the Sudan bollworm Diparopsis watersi (Roths.) (Lep., Noctuidae)

Abstract

Cross-mating occurred under laboratory conditions between Diparopsis castanea Hmps. and D. watersi (Roths.), although this subsequently resulted in only a slight egg hatch. Assays involving the use of virgin female traps demonstrated cross-attractancy between the two species. Since abdominal tip extracts of D. watersi females after gas chromatography produced the same pattern of electroantennogram responses as D. castanea female tip extract, it is probable that the sex pheromones of the two species are identical.