LIBRARY STATE PLANT BOARD September 1947 E-735 United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Administration bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine TESTS WITH POISONED BAITS AND ATTRACTANTS FOR MOTHS OF THE TOBACCO AND TOMATO HORNWORMS By L. B. Scott and Joe ililam, Division of Truck Crop and Garden Insect Investigations Prior to the development of arsenical dusts for the control of the tobacco hornworm, Protoparce sexta (Johan. ), and the tomato hornworm, P. quinquemaculata (Haw.), on tobacco, partial control was obtained by placing poisoned syrup in newly opened blossoms of the jimsonweed, Datura stramonium L. , a preferred feeding plant of the moths. This method was moderately effective, but it necessitated treating newly opened blooms each evening. Later, attempts were made to obtain the odorous principle of jimsonweed blossoms by distillation, extraction, and enfleurage, but with little or no success (3). Many chemicals were tested in an effort to discover a substitute for the natural fragrance of jimsonweed blooms, and several, including benzyl benzoate and iso- amyl benzoate, were attractive. Later, amyl salicylate (probably iso- amyl salicylate) produced a marked feeding response. Loths attracted to the artificial odors were captured readily in traps (2) or induced to take poisoned belts from simulated jimsonweed blooms, known as poison feeders (1). Laboratory tests with many poisons indicated th^t most of them were palatable to the moths but that they killed too slowly or not at all. A 5-percent solution of tartar emetic in sweetened water wr^s found to be effective and was used for a number of years. The authors continued these investigations and developed a safe and fairly effective bait containing 0.04 percent of rotenone (from an aqueous extract of derris or cube) and 10 percent by weight of sugar in water. Large field experiments conducted in Tennessee in 1S41 and 1942 (4) demonstrated that moths attracted to iso-amyl sali- cylate may be trapped or poisoned in large numbers. Traps and feeders containing poisoned bait, when placed at strategic points distributed over square-mile areas in 1942 and 1943, materially reduced the horn- worm infestation in- fields of burley and dark fire-cured tobacco, and their use demonstrated thttt either of these methods is of value as a supplementary control. The results of tests with different poisons and *ttr&ctants for hornworms during these investigations are presented herein. These tests were made at CL-rksville, Term. , 1937-45. -2- The poisons were tested in a cloth-covered cage approximately 70 feet long, 35 feet wide, and 8 feet high, divided into six equal sec- tions . A poison feeder and a means of diffusing the odor of iso-amyl salicylate were mounted on top of a 3-foot stake in the center of each compartment. All baits were liquid and contained 10 percent by weight of cane sugar in water. The aromatic materials were tested under field conditions in traps, each equipped with two poison feeders for the visual attraction of moths and with two 1-inch vials of the material to be tested. The odors of the materials were diffused from wicks extending into the liquids and protruding 1 inch above the top of the vials. The wicks were hold in position by loose-fitting corks. Bach treatment was replicated three times. Iso-amyl salicylate was purchased from several dealers, but none of the tested brands proved to be outstandingly superior to the others. Materials that attracted very few or no moths in several days were dis- cs rded, whereas those that showed promise were tested for comparatively long periods. The variation in effectiveness of a material, as shown by the results of several tests, is attributed to changing weather con- ditions and fluctuations in the moth population. Table 1 lists the poisons that were tested and gives the morta' i- ties of moths efter 12 and 18 hours. The tests that were made at the same time were grouped, as they are more comparable than tests made at different times. Cube extracts prepared by the authors to contain an undetermined percentage of rotenone are referred to as mixtures of cube with water or other materials. The strengths of the baits containing these ex- tracts are given as ratios of mixtures in column 1 to additional waier prior to the addition of sugar. These extracts were prepared from ground cube root containing 4.26 percent of rotenone and were filtered before use. Such expressions as "rotenone in water (extract)" refer to extracts of cube or derris prepared either by the Division of Insecti- cide Investigations or under its instruction to contain a known percen- tage of rotenone. It is recognized that these extracts contained other extractives than rotenone that may have been of value. These extracts were diluted on the basis of rotenone content, and the percentages of rotenone in the liquids before the addition of sugar are given in column 2. The preparation referred to as "rotenone (pure) in 95 percent ethyl alcohol" was prepared by mixing an excess quantity of pure roten- one crystals with 95 percent ethyl alcohol. The rotenone crystals -that did not dissolve were discarded. The results in table 1 show that rotenone is very little, if ai.y, more toxic than tartar emetic to the moths. The use of rotenone is safer, however, since tartar emetic is very toxic to warm-blooded animals. -3- Table 2 lists the materials tested, and give6 the number of moths caught within the indicated numbor of days. About half of approximately 100 materials tested were attractive, but none were more attractive than iso-amyl salicylate. Literature Cited (1) Gilmore, J. U., and Milan, J. 1933* Tartar -emetic as a poison for the tobacco hornworm moths, a preliminary report. Jour. Econ. Ent. 26: 227-233. (2) Morgan, A. C, and Crumb, S. E. 1928. Notes on the chemotropic responses of certain insects. Jour. Econ. Ent. 21* 913-920. (3) . and Lyon, S. C. 1928. Notes on amyl salicylate as an attrahent to the tobacco hornworm moth. Jour. Econ. Ent. 21: 189-191* (A) Scott, L. 8., and Milam, J. 19-43. Isoamyl salicylate as an attractant for hornworm moths. Jour. Econ. Ent. 36: 712-715 • -4- Table 1. — Effectiveness of different materials as poisons in sweet-water baits in cage tests against the moths of the tobacco hornworm and the tomato hornworm Material tested in water with 10 gm. of sugar added to each 100 ml. of liquid Percent of ac- tive ingredient or ratio of mix- ture with water Number of moths Percent mortality After 12 hours After 18 hours Cobalt nitrate Paregoric Tartar emetic (check) 0 0 0 0 0 43 Tartar emetic Indian hemp (Cannabis sativa) flowering tips, alcohol extract Sugar solution (check) Paris green Potassium fluoaluminate Magnesium sulfate Sugar solution (check) Cobalt nitrate Arsenic sulfide Antimony arsenate Sugar solution (check) Arsenious oxide Antimony oxide Aluminum arsenate Sugar solution (check) Sodium fluoride Aluminum arsenate Arsenious oxide Sugar solution (check) Barium carbonate Barium chloride Barium nitrate Sugar solution (check) Cobalt nitrate Cobaltous chloride Cobaltous oxalate Sugar solution (check) 10 20 70 :19 10 0 0 10 0 0 5 12 16 42 5 12 8 33 5 12 0 0 12 0 0 5 25 0 4 5 25 0 0 5 25 0 4 __- 25 4 4 5 20 55 55 5 20 5 10 5 20 10 60 20 15 25 5 10 10 10 5 10 0 0 5 10 20 30 10 0 0 5 9 11 22 5 9 0 11 5 9 22 22 9 0 0 5 15 0 0 5 15 0 0 5 15 0 0 15 0 0 -5- Table 1. — (Continued) Material tested in water with 10 gin. of sugar added to each 100 ml. of liquid Percent of ac- tive ingredient or ratio of mix- ture with water Number of moths Percent mortality After 12 hours After 18 hours Cobaltous chromate Trichlona-^tert-butyl alcohol Caffeine arsenite Sugar solution (check) Cube 4 oz. , 95$ ethyl alcohol 8 oz. Tartar emetic Sugar solution (check) Cube 1 oz., chloroform 5 oz. Cube 1 oz., methyl alcohol 3 oz, Cube 1 oz., ethyl alcohol 3 oz. Tartar, emetic (check) Rotenone (pure) in 95$ ethyl alcohol (saturated solution) Tartar emetic (check) Rotenone in methyl alcohol (extract) Rotenone in water (extract) plus .5% sodium benzoate Sugar solution (check) Rotenone in water extract of derris plus .2% of formaldehyde Sugar solution (check) Cube 6 oz. in water 64 oz., plus ,5% of sodium benzoate Tsrtar emetic (check) 5 20 0 0 5 20 0 0 5 20 0 0 — 20 0 0 1:12 80 34 64 1:6 80 30 49 5 80 22 56 — — 30 7 15 1:8 30 10 23 1:8 30 37 53 1:8 30 37 60 5 30 27 37 1:79 30 17 40 1:59 30 7 30 1:47 30 17 40 5 30 37 60 .05 20 25 55 .04 20 35 65 .03 40 23 58 .02 48 27 52 .7 13 31 31 .4 13 31 38 .2 13 38 54 — 13 0 8 .7 20 40 45 .4 20 65 75 .2 20 35 75 — 20 0 10 3:1 15 13 20 1:1 15 0 33 1:3 15 0 47 5 15 13 33 Table 1. — (Continued) -6- 3d in water with 10 gin, T adc- each Lquid Percent of ac- tive ingredient or ratio of mix- ture with water Percent mortality Cube 6 oz, in water 64 oz. , plus .5, Tartar emetic (check) Kotenone in water (extract) plus: Sodium benzoate ,b% Formaldehyde ,2% Cube 6 oz. , water 32 oz.j Without preservative Flus sodium benzoate 1% Cube 6 oz. in water 64 oz.f plus 7fo of sodium benzoate — exposed to sun for 6 days before test Tartar emetic (check) Mayapple (podophyllum peltatum) root, alcohol extract Pokeberry (Phytolacca americana) root, alcohol extract Copper sulfate Tartar emetic (check) kayapple root, alcohol extract Tartar emetic (check) Poison hemlock (Conium macula turn) seeds, extract Tartar emetic (check) Phellodendron f-murense seeds, petroleum ether extract Horsechestnut (i^ss cuius hippocf.stHnumJ~b8rk, extract Larkspur (Delphinium consolida) seeds, extract Tartar emetic (check) 1:9 1:3 15 0 13 20 40 1:15 15 7 13 5 15 33 33 .34 63 13 38 .34 63 33 55 1:1 63 3 16 1:1 63 11 22 3:1 25 2.0 36 1:1 25 24 68 1:5 25 0 4 5 25 44 64 15 13 33 1:9 15 13 40 5 15 13 33 5 15 33 60 3:20 20 10 .. 1:20 20 25 — 1:10 20 30 — 5 20 . 45 ■ — 1:20 15 27 27 1:10 15 20 20 2:10 15 33 33 5 15 60 67 1:20 8 0 0 1:10 8 0 0 1:10 8 0 0 5 8 37 37 Table 1. — (Continued) -7- Material tested in water with 10 gro. of sugar added to each 100 ml. of liquid Percent of ac- tive ingredient or ratio of mix- ture with water Number of moths Percent mortality After 12 hours After 18 hours Red sauill (Urglnea maritima) root, powdered Sugar solution (check) "Cobalt poison" or "flystone" l/ "Cobalt poison" as above, in alcohol Tartar emetic (check) "Cobalt poison" as above Cobalt arsenate Cobalt arsenite Tartar emetic (check) Sodium f luoaluminate Sugar solution (check) Red squill root, powdered Sugar solution (check) Cube 100 gm. , warm water 100 ml. Tartar emetic (check) Cube 100 gm, , warm water 100 ml. Tartar emetic (check) Sodium iodate Sodium arsenate Rotenone in water (extract) Tartar emetic (check) 5 25 12 32 10 25 24 36 25 4 24 7 15 53 80 3.5 15 20 73 Undiluted 15 20 53 5 15 47 73 5 10 0 0 5 10 30 30 5 10 0 20 5 10 70 70 4.4 18 17 28 — 18 1 2 5 10 10 10 10 10 20 30 — 10 10 20 Undiluted 25 48 76 3:1 25 64 80 1:1 25 32 60 5 25 20 68 1:3 10 40 80 1:6 10 20 70 1:9 10 10 60 5 10 40 80 5 45 20 42 2 45 29 55 .05 45 24 51 .03 45 27 55 5 45 24 49 -8- Table 1. — (Continued) T Material tested in water with 10 gnu of sugar added tc each 100 ml. of liquid Percent of ac- tive ingredient or ratio of mix- ture with water Nicotine salicylate Rotenone in water (extract) Sugar solution (check) Nicotine salicylate Rotenone in water (extract) Sugar solution (check) Rotenone in water (extract) Rotenone in water (extract): Exposed to sun 8 days Not exposed to sun Exposed to sun 7 days Exposed in shade 7 days Fyrethrins in alcohol extract of pyre thrum 2.5 1 .05 1 .5 .05 .03 .05 .03 .05 .03 .05 .04 .04 .02 .04 .08 .16 to .64 Number of moths 25 25 25 25 35 35 35 35 25 25 50 50 50 50 50 50 55 55 55 55 55 55 Percent mortality After 12 hours r 4 32 36 16 11 26 17 9 28 16 10 8 26 18 18 6 2 7 5 7 24 16 After 18 hours 40 48 16 14 43 23 11 64 32 26 20 32 42 54 16 4 II 20 20 29 27 Rotenone in water extract of derris .02 .04 .06 .12 .16 .20 90 90 90 90 90 90 35 59 51 69 65 50 Sodium iodate Sodium arsenite Rotenone in water (extract) Tartar emetic (chock) 5 2 .05 .03 5 45 45 45 45 45 20 29 24 27 24 42 55 51 55 49 -9- Table l.~ (Continued) Material tested in water with 10 gm. of sugar edded to each 100 ml. of liquid Percent of ac- tive ingredient or ratio of mix- ture with water Number of moths Percent mortality After 12 hours After 18 hours Rotenone in water (extract) plus .5% of sodium benzoate Rotenone in water (extract) Rotenone in water (extract) plus tartar- emetio: Rotenone . 04?S, tart&r emetic 5% Rotenone ,06%, tartar emetic 5% Rotenone in water (extract) plus .5% of sodium benzoate Nicotine salicylate Rotenone in water (extract) Sugar solution (check) Nicotine salicylate Rotenone in water (extract) Sugar solution (check) Water Picrotoxin Acetone semicarbazone gamma, gamma-Dipyridyl - Hydroxylamine hydrochloride Semicarbazide hydrochloride p_-Nitrophenol Ammonium fluoride Potassium iodate Tartar emetic (check) 0.04 140 — 55 .06 140 — 39 .04 140 — 46 .06 140 — — 44 ^— 140 — >— 51 -- 140 — 38 .02 40 __ 47 .04 40 -- 45 .06 40 — 60 .12 40 — 40 .20 40 — 40 .40 40 -- 35 2.5 25 4 16 1 ' 25 32 40 .04 25 36 48 — 25 16 16 1 35 11 14 .5 35 26 43 .04 35 17 23 35 8 11 -— 35 8 17 .2 25 4 4 1 25 8 8 .4 25 0 0 1 25 8 8- 1 25 0 0 .2 25 0 0 5 30 13 20 10 •30 17 27 5 30 3 ? 10 30 17 30 5 30 20 43 Table 1. --(Continued) -10- Material tested in water with 10 gm. of sugar added to each 100 mi. of liquid Percent of ac- tive ingredient or ratio of mix- ture with wrter 1 Number of moths Percent mortality After 12 hours After 18 hours Rotenone in water (extract) Potassium fluoride Ferric chloride Rotenone in w?».ter (extract) Tartar emetic (check) Red squill powder Barium chloride Sodium arsenate Rotenone in water (extract) Tartar emetic (check) Potassium salicylate Sodium salicylate Rotenone in water (extract) Tartcr emetic (check) 2, 3,4, 6-Tetramethylglucose Sugar solution (check) 2,3.4,6-Tetremethylglucose Nicotine peat Tartar emetic Sugar solution (check) Turkey mullein (Piscaria sitigera) leaves, water extract 0.02 5 10 5 10 .02 5 5 10 5 5 .05 5 5 10 5 10 .02 5 1 2 4 6 5 5 1:50 2:50 4:50 8:50 16:50 32:50 30 33 30 3 30 7 30 7 30 7 30 27 30 20 40 10 40 17 40 10 40 22 40 52 40 40 25 0 25 0 25 0 25 4 25 24 25 8 80 5 80 34 80 15 80 16 30 20 30 10 30 27 30 7 10 -_ 10 — 10 — 10 — 10 -- 10 — • 47 17 23 7 7 40 40 15 27 12 37 60 50 8 4 4 32 64 24 10 51 46 31 30 27 47 7 40 30 30 40 80 10 Table 1. — (Continued) -11- ' Material tested in water with 10 gm. of sugar added to each 100 ml. of liquid Percent of ac- tive ingredient or ratio of mix- ture with wuter Number of moth 8 Percent mortality- After 12 hours After 18 hours 2, 3,4, 6-Tetramethylglucose: Chemically pure Crude syrup obtained from manu- facture of pure material Partially methylated "glucose" mixture Rotenone in water (extract) (check) DDT 10^ in cellosolve DDT 1Q?S in dioxane 2 20 25 35 1:24 20 30 60 1:24 20 40 50 .04 20 45 65 1:19 50 __ 6 1:19 50 — 6 1/30-year-old material containing 66 percent of arsenious acid but no cobalt. -12- Table 2. — Moths of the tobacco and the tomato hornworms attracted by the odors of various aromatic materials Days tested Number of moth. J captured Material P. quinquemaculata P. sexta Total Males Females Males Females .Ammonium benzoate \J 7 0 0 0 0 0 Ammonium salicylate 60 0 0 0 0 0 iso-Amyl acetate 7 0 0 1 0 1 Amyl alcohol 21 3 1 0 0 4 iso-Amyl alcohol: Lot 1 28 1 1 0 0 2 Lot 2 16 0 0 0 1 1 Amyl benzoate: Lot 1 2 32 68 53 95 51 267 Lot 2 56 8 7 16 7 38 iso-Amyl benzoate 125 20 21 47 21 109 iso-Amyl bromide 18 0 0 0 0 0 Amyl butyrute 161 23 19 18 10 70 iso-Amyl butyrete 160 18 15 23 13 69 iso-Amyl caproate 40 9 4 1 0 14 Amyl cinnamate 6 0 0 0 0 0 alpha-Amyl cinnamic aldehyde 4 0 0 0 0 0 Amylic alcohol 21 1 1 0 1 3 iso-Amyl ether 72 7 7 6 5 25 n-Amyl ether 18 0 0 0 0 0 Amyl formate 7 0 0 0 0 0 Amyl heptoete 8 0 0 0 0 0 Amyl nitrate 7 0 0 0 0 0 iso-Amyl nitrite 7 0 0 0 0 0 p-tert-Amylphenol 7 0 0 0 1 1 n-Amyl phthalate 8 0 0 0 0 0 Amyl propionate 17 0 0 3 0 3 iso-Amyl propionate: Lot 1 7 1 1 0 1 3 Lot 2 28 0 0 0 0 0 Amyl salicylate: Lot 1 56 18 21 25 12 76 Lot 2 98 37 27 25 12 101 Lot 3 39 35 28 20 10 93 iso-Amyl salicylate: Lot 1 348 152 136 101 60 449 Lot 2 134 42 45 21 15 123 Lot 3 80 54 37 7 19 117 -13- Table 2. — (Continued) Days tested Kumber of moths captured Material P. quinquemaculata < P. sexta Total Kales Females Males Females iso-Amyl salicylate — (Continued) Lot 4 188 Lot 5 80 Lot 6 80 Lot 7 108 Lot 8 117 Lot 9 117 Lot 10 39 Lot 11 39 Lot 12 93 Lot 13 39 Lot 14 93 Lot 16 147 Lot 16 93 Lot 17 93 Lot 18 39 Lot 19 39 Lot 20 93 Lot 21 93 Lot 22 39 iso-Amyl salicylate from pure iso-amyl alcohol 54 iso-Amyl sali cylate from coal g as 54 iso-Amyl salicylaJ fractions 2/: be cut 3, : L20- 130 c, 7 mm. 98 Cut 4, 130- 138 c, 7 mm. 98 Cut 5, : L36- 146 c, 7 mm. 98 Cut 6, 140- 145 c, 6-7 mm. 96 Residue 98 iso-amyl ! salicylate 98 iso-Amyl : stea rate 18 135 50 60 111 24 31 25 18 37 33 44 43 37 45 33 31 47 38 23 164 39 54 145 30 18 24 25 32 32 41 55 33 48 22 27 35 45 19 91 • 78 468 9 13 111 12 26 152 124 97 477 35 19 108 28 22 99 11 9 69 13 3 59 28 17 114 24 13 102 17 16 lie 41 24 163 19 18 107 32 16 141 15 5 75 8 o 71 29 16 127 46 24 153 16 14 72 2 3 16 12 8 32 185 171 192 166 121 210 0 Table 2. — (Continued) -14- Days tested Number of moths captured Material P. quinquemaculata i ?. sexta Total Males Females " ■ "■■ ■ —•—, Males Females iso-Amyl iso-valerate Amyl valerate Benzyl acetate Benzyl alcohol Benzyl benzoate Benzyl butyrate Benzyl ether Benzyl formate Benzyl propionate Benzyl salicylate Benzyl valerate iso-Butyl acetate iso-Butyl alcohol n- Butyl alcohol tert-Butyl alcohol Butyl benzoate iso-Butyl benzoate n-Butyl benzoate n-Butyl o-benzylbenzoate n-Butyl benzyl ether Butyl butyrate iso-Butyl butyrate iso-Butyl n-butyrate iso-Butyl iso-butyrate n-Butyl ether n-Butyl formate n-Butyl levulinate n-Butyl oleate iso-Butyl propionate Butyl carbinol Butyl salicylate iso-Butyl salicylate n-Butyl salicylate Butyl valerate iso-Butyl valerate n-Butyl iso-valerate Caprylic alcohol Decyllic alcohol beta, beta' -Dehydroethyl ether 28 1 69 2 7 1 347 52 184 22 196 25 7 0 61 3 86 8 206 72 56 3 7 0 19 0 19 0 21 1 56 0 118 6 125 17 60 0 82 2 18 0 60 0 25 0 e 0 21 0 7 0 21 0 21 0 17 0 18 0 23 0 37 1 118 20 40 0 14 0 8 0 21 0 8 0 13 0 1 0 37 19 27 0 1 2 80 3 1 0 0 0 2 4 14 2 5 0 0 1 0 1 0 3 1 0 0 1 1 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 1 96 13 45 1 1 15 128 3 2 0 0 0 61 46 130 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 2 29 2 0 0 1 0 0 4 0 4 0 2 28 213 9 63 17 114 0 1 2 7 2 27 70 350 1 10 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 15 78 18 74 57 218 0 2 1 10 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 2 3 0 0 0 0 5 9 2 6 20 83 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 Table 2. — (Continued) -15- - ~ Days tested Number of rr.oths captured Material P. quinquemaculata P. sexta Total Males Females I>.ales Ferns 1 e s Ethyl acetate Ethyl benzoate Ethyl benzyl alpha- toluidine Ethyl iso-butyrate Ethyl n-Dutyrate Ethyl formate Ethyl salicylate Ethyl valerate Ethyl iso-valerate Formaldehyde Furfuryl alcohol Fusel oil benzoate Fusel oil salicylate Fusel oil salicylate fractions 2/ ': Cut 3, 140-157 C, 25-30 mm. Cut 4, 118-142 C, 6-7 mm. Cut 5, 142-146 C, 6-7 mm. Cut 6, 143-147 C, 6-7 mm. Residue Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium L. ) bloss alcohol extract Jimsonweed blossoms, extracted in lard Methyl acetate Methyl benzoate Lot 1 Lot 2 Methyl salicylate iso-Propyl alcohol n-Fropyl alcohol 4 0 0 0 1 1 24 1 0 3 2 . 6 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 21 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 0 0 12 1 1 0 0 2 14 0 0 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 0 108 20 24 40 30 114 14 0 0 4 1 5 98 98 98 98 98 oms 175 202 153 125 166 8 0 0 0 0 0 67 0 0 0 0 0 58 0 0 12 5 17 54 2 3 9 11 25 58 7 6 2 3 18 60 0 0 1 0 1 60 1 0 0 0 1 UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA -16- 3 1262 09239 2090 Xable 2. — (Continued) Days tested Number of moths captured Material P. quinquemaculata P. sexta Tota] Males Females Males [ ' Females iso-Propyl benioate Propyl butyrate iso-Propyl salicyla- iso-Valeraldehyde 4 8 be 4 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 l/kll materials were obtained from commercial sources unless otherwise stated. 2/Prepared by the Division of Insecticide Investigations.