Mass trapping using sex pheromone for the management of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) in cabbage

The diamondback moth (DBM) Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is a major pest of cruciferous crops cause severe economic losses worldwide. Continued dependence on chemical insecticides has led to development of resistance, negative impact on non-targets as well as environmental pollution. These problems prompt a shift towards behaviour-based pest management strategies. This study evaluated the electrophysiological and behavioural responses of P. xylostella to synthetic sex pheromone blends of Z-11-hexadecenyl acetate and Z-11-hexadecenal formulated in different ratios and loaded onto rubber septa. The PH blend (49.5:49.5:1) elicited the highest antennal response (~3.3 mV) and attracted the most moths in behavioural assays, followed by the (10:10:0.1) (~2.6 mV) and (7:3:1) (~1.9 mV) blends. Field trapping trials confirmed that the PH blend captured the highest number of moths (~847.2) among all tested formulations. These findings provide insights for optimizing pheromone blends for effective mass trapping and monitoring of P. xylostella, supporting sustainable and eco-friendly integrated pest management strategies.