Identification of host volatiles attractive to female currant clearwing, Synanthedon tipuliformis a major pest of blackcurrant

Black currants are an important crop in New Zealand covering 1,200ha producing 6000 tons of black currants worth of NZ$9m. Currant clearwing Synanthedon tipuliformis (Clerck) (Sesiidae) is difficult to control using insecticides because the cryptic larvae inhabit stems of blackcurrants. The identification of the pheromone of currant clearwing led to the rapid development of mating disruption in New Zealand blackcurrants, using polyethylene tubing dispensers. Almost after nine years of adoption of pheromone, this pest started to develop resistance against mating disruption. Our field observations confirmed that both male and female currant clearwing orient to flowers of host plants. This project aim to:

• Isolation and identification of the chemical signals emanating from flowers that attract both male and female.
• Investigate the possibility of using host volatiles to enhance the efficacy of sex pheromone used for monitoring and control of this pest.
• Develop and test traps utilize host volatiles that can be used to detect, monitor mainly female currant clearwing.