Volatile Natural Products for Monitoring the California Tree Nut Insect Pest Amyelois transitella

摘要

The navel orangeworm (Amyelois transitella) is a major insect pest that inflicts serious economic damage to the California tree nut industry. Feeding by navel orangeworm larvae causes physical damage resulting in lower kernel quality; more importantly larvae are purported to vector the aflatoxigenic fungi. Aflatoxins are toxic metabolites produced by aspergilli and represent a major food safety concern. Over the years volatile natural products have played a large role in efforts to control or monitor navel orangeworm moths. The two most important sources of relevant natural products have been female navel orangeworm, which produce a complex sex pheromone blend; and, the almond host plant, which has recently been described as the source of a blend of volatiles that attract both male and female navel orangeworm. Provided herein is an overview of natural products and their role in efforts to control or monitor navel orangeworm moths in California almonds, pistachios, and walnuts.