placed at the opposite end of the tunnel and consisted of one or more 15 -watt blacklight 

 fluorescent lamps. European corn borer moths were released at a center opening in the 

 tunnel in groups of 10 to 20. Comparisons were made on the number of moths recovered 

 in the vicinity of each lamp. Six types of fluorescent lamps with outputs, which covered 

 various regions of the spectrum between 253.7 and 630 m/i, were tested. Taylor and Deay 

 concluded that the wavelength of maximum attractiveness for the European corn borer 

 moth at the intensity levels used in these studies is in the near ultraviolet region between 

 320 and 380 rn.fi. 



Glick and Hollingsworth (8) in studies with pinkbollworm moths used a similar tech- 

 nique. In these tests, a 15-watt blacklight fluorescent lamp was used as a standard of 

 comparison and was placed at one end of a 30 by 30 inch tunnel, 24 feet in length. The 

 lamp or lamps to be tested were operated at the opposite end of the tunnel. Pink bollworm 

 moths were introduced into the center of the tunnel in groups ranging from 7 to over 400 

 and evaluation was based on the numbers recovered at each end of the tunnel. Tests were 

 made of 28 lamps or combinations of lamps with outputs which covered various regions 

 of the spectrum between 184.9 m/i (ozone lamp) and 1200 m/i (the infrared drying lamp). 

 Of the several sources tested, only two proved to be more effective than the 15-watt 

 blacklight fluorescent lamp- -a 100-watt mercury vapor lamp equipped with a filter which 

 transmitted primarily in the near ultraviolet region and a blacklight fluorescent lamp 

 with a similar integral filter (General Electric Co. Type Fl 5-T8/BLB). 8 Sex determina- 

 tions were made of the moths responding to the near ultraviolet source and very little 

 difference was noted in the male:female ratio. 



Several laboratory wavelength studies by the group motor response method have been 

 conducted in which very careful attention has been given to the quality and quantity of 

 energy presented to the insects (6, 16, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27). 



Weiss and his associates (24, 25, 26, 27) conducted extensive laboratory research 

 with narrow wavelength bands of radiation of equal physical intensities. Ten wavebands, 

 approximately 15 to 40 m/i wide, located at various points within the spectrum between 

 365 and 720 m/i were used in tests with over 50 different species of insects. The majority 

 of the tests were with the adults of diurnal insects. The resulting response curves indi- 

 cated that the stimulating efficiency increases only slightly from zero at 720 to 575 m/i, 

 rises to a maximum at 492 m/i, declines to a low level at 464 m/i, and attains its peak at 

 365 m/i. Peterson and Haeussler (16) made rather elaborate laboratory tests of the re- 

 sponse of the oriental peach moth and the codling moth. Tests with four rather broad 

 wavelength bands in the visible region of the spectrum revealed that, when the intensities 

 were approximately equal, the adults of both species preferred the blue and violet wave- 

 bands. Limited tests showed that the oriental peach moth was attracted to near ultraviolet 

 sources but this region was not investigated thoroughly. 



Ficht and Hienton (6) conducted laboratory studies on the effectiveness of ultraviolet 

 radiation as an attractant for corn borer moths and were able to conclude that radiation 

 below 320 m/i did not increase the efficiency of sources radiating strongly in the near 

 ultraviolet region of the spectrum. 



Stermer 9 and his associates made comprehensive laboratory studies of the spectral 

 response characteristics of seven species of stored-product insects. Nine narrow wave - 

 length bands (approximately 20 m/i in width) of radiation at equal physical intensities 

 were used for the tests. These wavebands included 280.4 m/i in the ultraviolet and 600 m/i 

 in the orange region of the spectrum. Four of the species used, the almond moth, the 

 Angoumois grain moth, the lesser grain borer, and the red flour beetle preferred a wave 

 band which peaked near 500 m/i in the green portion of the spectrum. A secondary peak 

 of response was noted in the regionbetween 334 and 365 m/i. One species, the Indian-meal 

 moth, showed a peak response to wave bands between 334 and 365 m/i with a secondary 



8 Mention of companies or products in this paper does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture over others not mentioned. 



s Stermer, R. A. The response of certain stored-product insects to various wavebands of electromagnetic radiation. 1958. (Un- 

 published master's thesis. Copy on file Tex. Agr. and Mech. Col., College Station, Tex.) 



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