The date moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is considered at present a permanent danger for date palm in Algeria. The polyphagia of this insect and its wide distribution on various hosts as well as the particular behavior of its neonatal caterpillars make this insect a major pest of the Algerian palm groves. In this context, the study of the attractiveness of this bio-aggressor by the extract of the Deglet Nour variety with hexane was tested on larvae in different stages. These extracts were identified and quantified by coupling gas chromatography / mass spectrometry (GC / MS).
The attractiveness tests carried out in a close chamber and in the olfactometer reveal that the older individuals are significantly attracted than the first and second larval stages by the odor of the Deglet Nour variety, this attraction is due to the presence of odorous molecules which attract this formidable pest. Chromatographic analysis has identified about fifty products that can play a very important role in the attraction of this insect.
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