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Akshatha G, Bheemanna M, Hanchinal SG, Prabhuraj A, Haveri RV, Nidagundi JM, Lakshmikanth M. Studies on the response of normal and irradiated pink bollworm males towards pheromone source. Bìol Tvarin. 2024; 26 (1): 11–16.
https://doi.org/10.15407/animbiol26.01.011
Received 24.01.2024 ▪ Revision 07.03.2024 ▪ Accepted 13.03.2024 ▪ Published online 29.03.2024

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Studies on the response of normal and irradiated pink bollworm males towards pheromone source

G. Akshatha, M. Bheemanna, S. G. Hanchinal, A. Prabhuraj, R. V. Haveri, J. M. Nidagundi, M. Lakshmikanth

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University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka 584101, India

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Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is the right eco-friendly method to overcome the pink bollworm Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunder) menace. In SIT attractiveness of released moths to their natural counterpart is most important as such this ability was examined in our study. For this, newly emerged five virgin female gamma irradiated with 0–250 Gy were used. These females were placed inside small plastic vial provided with aeration and suspended inside the delta traps by providing 10% honey solution. Traps were placed in the field during evening. Moth catches in each trap were counted and removed daily and these observations continued up to 5 days. In a same manner irradiated males were released separately inside the field cage to know its attractiveness to virgin female. The results indicated that attraction of male moths to irradiated virgin females decreased significantly with increasing doses of radiation i.e., at 200 and 250 Gy. The number of males captured per female was greatest on day 2^nd due to its peak sexual activity, i.e., 25.60, 23.05, 19.45, 14, 9.4 and 5.9 moths at 0, 50, 100, 150, 150, 200, and 250 Gy, respectively. Gamma radiation also affected the irradiated males to find their natural mates at a higher dose; however, the maximum number of 5.30, 5.95 and 5.10 irradiated male moths were attracted to the natural pheromone secreted by female moths at 50, 100 and 150 Gy respectively, compared to the 6.80 moths at 0 Gy. The results on attractiveness of irradiated male moths towards virgin female-baited traps were considered a good measure of male competitiveness.

Key words: Pectinophora gossypiella, Gamma radiation, competitiveness, Sterile Insect Technique

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