Effect of relative humidity conditions on responsiveness of European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) males to female sex pheromone in a wind tunnel.

The responsiveness pf 3-day-old European corn borer males to three concentrations of 97∶3 Z∶E 11-tetradecenyl acetate, the female sex pheromone, was studied over a range of relative humidities (43-100%) in a wind tunnel. The proportion of males taking flight and reaching the source decreased, while the proportion exhibiting in-flight arrestment of upwind progress increased under high humidity conditions at all three concentrations of pheromone tested. The relationships between relative humidity and these behaviors were best described by polynomial equations.