Abstract: 【Aim】 This study aims to screen the optimal formulation and fermentation duration of sugar-acetic acid-ethanol-water solutions used to trap Agrotis ipsilon adults and to identify active volatile components from fermentation solutions. 【Methods】 Sucrose, acetic acid, ethanol and purified water were mixed together in different ratios, i.e., 3∶1∶3∶80, 3∶1∶3∶160, 3∶1∶6∶80 and 1∶1∶3∶80 (m/v/v/v) as solutions A, B, C and D, respectively, and sugar, white vinegar, liquor and tap water were mixed in the ratio of 6∶3∶1∶10 (m/v/v/v) as the solution E (the commonly used formulation), the taxis of A. ipsilon adults to the fermented sugar-acetic acid-ethanol-water solutions was tested using Y-tube olfactometer, and the components of volatile compounds from the solutions fermented for 1-15 d were analyzed with GC-MS. 【Results】 The taxis test results showed that the solution B showed significantly higher attractiveness to A. ipsilon adults than the solutions A, C, D and E, and the solution C followed. The solutions B and C fermented for 8 d showed significantly higher attractiveness to A. ipsilon adults than the unfermented solution and the solutions B and C fermented for other duration except 5 d and 7 d. In total, 41 compounds including 17 diolefines, 8 aldehydes, 2 ketones, 4 alcohols, 5 esters and 5 ethers were identified in the solution B fermented for 8 d. Moreover, the volatile components of the solution B fermented for 8 d were significantly different from those of the unfermented solution and the solution B fermented for 4 d and 12 d. 【Conclusion】 In this study we screened the optimal formulation (3∶1∶3∶160, m/v/v/v) of single component sugar-acetic acid-ethanol-water solution used to trap A. ipsilon adults and proved that their activities can be enhanced by fermentation with the optimal fermentation duration of 8 d.

Key words: Agrotis ipsilon, sugar-acetic acid-ethanol-water solution, fermentation, volatile, taxis, behavioral response