Abstract:  The evaluation and optimization of synthetic pheromone blends of the rice leaf folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis were carried out in the rice fields in Haining City, Zhejiang Province between August 15 and September 20, 2009 to explore its application for forecasting population. Three methods including sex pheromone traps, light traps as well as disturbing and counting method (DCM) for monitoring adult populations were compared. The results showed that the chemical blend of Z11-octadecenal (60 μg), Z13-octadecenal (500 μg), Z11-octadece-1-ol (60 μg) and Z13-octadecen-1-ol (120 μg) formulated in the PVC capillary tubing had the strongest attractiveness to male moths in Zhejiang, China. The preliminary data obtained from the comparison of pheromone traps, light traps and the DCM indicated the potential application of pheromone traps in monitoring population of the rice leaf folder.

Key words: Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, sex pheromone, mass trapping, population monitoring, light trap, disturbing and counting method (DCM)