Potential of Ultrasound to Control Sesamia cretica (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The pink stalk borer, Sesamia cretica Led. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is one of the most important sugarcane pests in many regions of the world, causing severe damage to sugarcane every year. This insect has a specialized form of the auditory organ called the tympanal organ, and ultrasound can be employed as a potential tactic employed in physical control strategy against the pest. The present study evaluates the efficacy of ultrasound in controlling the pest in laboratory conditions. For this purpose, the repellent properties of various ultrasonic frequencies ranging from 21 to 100 kHz with 0.5 kHz intervals and wave shapes, including Sin(x), Cos(x) square, and sawtooth, were studied in choice experiments on the moths. The repellent effects of ultrasonic waves at frequencies 39.5 and 37.5 kHz were more significant than other frequencies in male and female moths, respectively. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the repellent properties of different wave shapes. In non-choice experiments, the effects of the most repellent ultrasonic treatment, at frequency 37.5 kHz, on biological characteristics of various life stages and distribution patterns of the moths were investigated. The results showed that the ultrasonic treatment causes substantial reductions in many biological parameters of the immature life stages of pests, including longevity, weight, survival rate, and fecundity. Moreover, the pattern indicated that the moths tended to escape from the ultrasound. The findings of this study can be employed for manufacturing the ultrasonic repeller to be used in sugarcane fields.