Understanding how we can use the mating behavior of insect pests to manage or control infestations is a key component of integrated pest management. Mating disruption can be implemented using pheromone lures that can stop or delay mating and may significantly reduce population size over time. Plodia interpunctella, the Indianmeal moth, has shown decreases in reproductive output as delays in mating increases and the use of pheromone trapping has been used to decrease population sizes. Female Pyralid moths have also been shown to autodetect pheromones and respond with increased calling and flight behavior. Here we detail how a recently caught strain of P. interpunctella responds to delays in mating and how female moths may compensate for an increase in sythetic pheromone within their environment. We find that the recently caught strain has significant decreases in reproductive output as delays in mating increase; by 14 days of delayed mating, there are no viable offspring. Compared to a lab-reared colony, these females live longer and maintain viable egg production longer. Female moths also show autodetection to pheromone within the environment, with an overall reduction in high frequency movement, begin calling earlier, and start and stop movement earlier when pheromone is present. These results suggest that there are significant differences between lab-reared and recently caught moths and that females may be attempting to compensate for increases in pheromone by increasing calling behavior and reducing movements in order to call more. Using this information we can adapt these mating disruption techniques for higher accuracy.
