Turbulent Dispersion of Disparlure in the Forest and Male Gypsy Moth 1 Response

Abstract

The response of ♂ gypsy moths to disparlure released at a controlled rate insde a forest was observed at various distances from the source. Measurements of wind inside the forest and the theory of relative turbulent diffusion allowed us to estimate the peak concentration eliciting this pheromone response. Within several meters of the source, the peak concentration is as much as 25 times greater than would be calculated by the usual average diffusion equation, e.g., Sutton's equation. Since moths respond quickly to pheromone, the peak rather than the average is the concentration of interest.