Female sex pheromone of Athetis lepigone (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Identification and field evaluation

Athetis lepigone has been recorded in many countries in Europe and Asia, but it had never been documented as an agricultural pest until 2005. For the purpose of using the sex pheromone to control this pest, we conducted a study to identify the sex pheromone of A. lepigone by gas chromatography with an electroantennographic detector (GC‐EAD) and GC coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analyses. Three pheromone candidates were detected by GC‐EAD analysis in the extracts of the female sex pheromone gland, and two candidates were identified as (Z)‐7‐dodecenyl acetate (Z7‐12:OAc) and (Z)‐9‐tetradecenyl acetate (Z9‐14:OAc) in a ratio of 1:5 by mass spectral analysis of natural pheromone components and dimethyl disulphide adducts. In the field male trapping test, the traps baited with the binary blend captured high number of males, while traps with single component hardly caught males, indicating that the two components are essential for the male attractiveness. In addition, the optimum ratios of Z7‐12:OAc and Z9‐14:OAc were determined as 3:7–7:3, and the best doses for the binary blend (at ratio of 3:7 between Z7‐12:OAc and Z9‐14:OAc) were 0.25–0.5 mg/trap, based on the number of male catches. The identification of a highly attractive sex pheromone will help in developing efficient strategies for monitoring and control of A. lepigone.     

Field trapping of male Phyllonorycter ringoniella using variable ratios of pheromone components

The sex pheromone of Phyllonorycter ringoniella (Matsumura) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) has been identified to be a blend of (Z)‐10‐tetradecenyl acetate (Z10‐14:OAc) and E4,Z10‐tetradecadienyl acetate (E4,Z10‐14:OAc) in Japan, Korea, and China. However, the commercial product based on previous results is not attractive enough to be used for monitoring and controlling apple leafminer populations in the field. We re‐investigated the attractiveness of the two pheromone components, singly and in blends, in apple orchards in Shangdong and Shaanxi, the main apple‐growing provinces in China. Our results revealed that Z10‐14:OAc alone was not attractive to P. ringoniella male moths in the field, but E4,Z10‐14:OAc alone not only was strongly attractive but caught more males than any of the blends of Z10‐14:OAc and E4,Z10‐14:OAc tested. The most attractive blend ratios differed slightly for the two locations. No clear dose–response relationship was obtained for the 2:8 blend of Z10‐14:OAc and E4,Z10‐14:OAc. However, the dose–response field study of E4,Z10‐14:OAc alone showed that 1 mg per lure achieved the highest moth catch. These findings differ from the previous report of the best pheromone blend in China. Our data showed that E4,Z10‐14:OAc is the major component of the pheromone of P. ringoniella.     

Sex pheromone of the iris gelechiid moth Monochroa divisella

The iris gelechiid moth, Monochroa divisella (Douglas) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a serious pest in iris horticulture. The overuse of pesticides for conventional control has a great risk of water pollution because irises are often planted in damp areas. To minimize pesticide applications, it is essential to monitor moth emergence by using pheromone traps. The female pheromone of M. divisella was analyzed by means of gas chromatography‐electroantennographic detection (GC‐EAD) and GC‐mass spectrometry. Two male EAD‐active compounds were detected and identified as (Z)‐3‐dodecenyl acetate (Z3‐12:Ac) and (Z)‐5‐tetradecenyl acetate (Z5‐14:Ac), the amounts of which were ca. 40 and 6 ng per female (100:15), respectively. Synthetic Z3‐12:Ac alone attracted only a few males in field trap experiments, but the attractiveness was significantly enhanced when 15% (wt/wt) Z5‐14:Ac was added; traps baited with their binary mixtures captured 21.3‐106.4 males/trap/day, as compared with 2.3 males/trap/day attracted by a crude extract of 10 virgin females. We conclude that Z3‐12:Ac and Z5‐14:Ac are M. divisella pheromone components, which can be offered as an attractant in monitoring traps. Although dodecenyl acetates are a major class of lepidopteran pheromone components, those with the double bond at the 3 position are rare and appear to be unique to gelechiids.     

Female sex pheromone of Sesamia cretica: chemical and behavioural evidence for a three-component blend

The female‐produced sex pheromone of the Durra stem borer, Sesamia cretica (Lederer) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), had been previously characterized as a 75:25 blend of (Z)‐9‐tetradecenol (Z9‐14:OH) and (Z)‐9‐tetradecenyl acetate (Z9‐14:OAc) based on field trapping experiments. The low attraction of this blend in the field led us to further investigate the sex pheromone of this pest. Coupled gas chromatography with electroantennographic detection (GC‐EAD) analysis of female pheromone gland extracts consistently revealed three EAD‐active compounds. According to their GC retention times, mass spectra, and comparative EAG analyses with authentic standards, two of these compounds were found to be the previously reported components Z9‐14:OH and Z9‐14:OAc, whereas a third compound was identified as (Z)‐11‐hexadecenol (Z11‐16:OH). In wind tunnel experiments, the highest male responses were elicited by ratios of Z9‐14:OH, Z9‐14:OAc, and Z11‐16:OH, ranging from 90:1:9 to 90:5:5. In field tests, the 90:1:9 ratio of the blend loaded onto rubber septum dispensers was significantly more effective than single‐component, two‐component, and any other ratio of the three‐component blend. The greater effectiveness of this blend resulted in a more accurate detection of S. cretica flight activity compared with the previously reported two‐component blend.     

Sex pheromone production and response in Korean populations of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae), is a worldwide pest of cruciferous crops. We examined the female pheromone production and male response to various pheromone blends in two Korean populations. Gas chromatography (GC) and GC‐mass spectrometry (MS) analyses of pheromone gland extracts revealed that females produce (Z)‐11‐hexadecenal (Z11‐16:Ald), (Z)‐11‐hexadecenyl acetate (Z11‐16:OAc), and (Z)‐11‐hexadecen‐1‐ol (Z11‐16:OH) in a ratio of 8:100:18. However, (Z)‐9‐tetradecenyl acetate (Z9‐14:OAc), a previously reported component of the sex attractant of a Canadian P. xylostella population was not detected in gland extracts of the Korean one. Field tests showed that Z11‐16:Ald and Z11‐16:OAc are essential for attraction of male moths, and the highest attraction is obtained with a 10:90 blend mimicking the blend found in gland extracts. Addition of 1 or 10% of Z11‐16:OH to the 10:90 blend of Z11‐16:Ald and Z11‐16:OAc significantly increased attraction. However, attraction was strongly antagonized by the addition of as little as 0.1% of Z9‐14:OAc to the most attractive ternary blend. The ternary blend of Z11‐16:Ald, Z11‐16:OAc, and Z11‐16:OH at a ratio of 10:90:1 was more effective at catching P. xylostella males than the Japanese three‐component blend or the Canadian four‐component blend in Korea. These results suggest that there is geographical variation in the pheromone systems of this species.     

Sex pheromone of a North American population of the spotted tentiform leafminer, Phyllonorycter blancardella

The major sex pheromone compound of the spotted tentiform leafminer, Phyllonorycter blancardella (F.) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), from Ontario, Canada, was identified as (10E)‐dodecen‐1‐yl acetate (E10‐12:Ac) using chemical analysis and field trapping experiments. The minor compounds (10E)‐dodecen‐1‐ol (E10‐12:OH) (4.6%), dodecan‐1‐ol (12:OH) (2.3%), and (10Z)‐dodecen‐1‐yl acetate (Z10‐12:Ac) 1.6% were also identified. The dienic acetate (4E,10E)‐dodecadien‐1‐yl acetate (E4,E10‐12:Ac), a compound reported to be attractive to P. blancardella, was not found in the glands of this population. A two‐component blend of the major and one of each the three minor compounds, in ratios similar to those found in the sex pheromone gland, did not increase the attractiveness of traps baited with synthetic pheromone. The minor compounds E10‐12:OH and 12:OH were not attractive to P. blancardella when tested individually. Z10‐12:Ac was attractive to P. blancardella, although traps baited with this compound captured only 2% of the moths that were captured in traps baited with the main compound. A four‐component blend of the major and each of the three minor compounds (100 : 1 : 1 : 1) was not more attractive than the major compound alone. The related species Phyllonorycter mespilella was captured in traps baited with E10‐12:Ac.     

Optimization of pheromone lure and trap design for monitoring the fir coneworm, Dioryctria abietivorella

The major components of the sex pheromone of Dioryctria abietivorella (Groté) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were recently identified as (9Z,11E)‐tetradecadien‐1‐yl acetate (9Z,11E‐14:Ac) and a polyunsaturated, long‐chain hydrocarbon (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)‐pentacosapentaene (C25 pentaene). The optimal ratio of these components and the role of potential minor components were not fully determined in the initial short report on the pheromone's identification. We tested different ratios of the two major components loaded into grey halobutyl rubber septum dispensers, placed in sticky traps deployed in conifer breeding arboreta. The optimal ratio of the two components was 200 µg 9Z,11E‐14:Ac to 2000 µg C25 pentaene. (Z)‐9‐Tetradecen‐1‐yl acetate, which had been identified previously in female pheromone gland extracts, and five other potential minor pheromone components, were tested individually as additions to the optimized two‐component lure blend. None of the ternary blends were more attractive than the optimized two‐component blend, at the ratios tested. Two lure adjuvants, a UV stabilizer (Sumisorb 300) and the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene, added individually or together, did not affect the attractiveness of the optimized lure blend. The Pherotech diamond sticky trap baited with the optimized lure blend was the most effective trap design among eight types of sticky trap and a bucket style trap that were tested. Traps baited with synthetic lures were as attractive as traps baited with virgin female moths. The optimized two‐component lure blend in the Pherotech diamond trap is recommended for monitoring fir coneworm infestations. The availability of an effective synthetic pheromone opens the possibility for control tactics using mating disruption or attract‐and‐kill techniques.     

Identification and field evaluation of the sex pheromone components of a Korean population of Glossosphecia romanovi

Glossosphecia romanovi (Leech) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) is a pest of grape in northeast Asia. We analyzed pheromone gland extracts of female moths and compared attractiveness of various pheromone blends to male moths in the field. Two major components from pheromone gland extracts were identified as (Z,Z)‐3,13‐octadecadien‐1‐ol (Z3,Z13‐18:OH) and (Z,Z)‐3,13‐octadecadienyl acetate (Z3,Z13‐18:OAc) in a ratio of approximately 9:1. Field tests showed that male G. romanovi were attracted to Z3,Z13‐18:OH alone, but the maximum number of males was attracted to the binary blend of Z3,Z13‐18:OH and Z3,Z13‐18:OAc mimicking the blend found in female extracts. In addition to these components, small amounts of (E,Z)‐3,13‐octadecadien‐1‐ol (E3,Z13‐18:OH) were detected in the pheromone gland of females, but addition of this component inhibited attraction to the primary binary blend. The blend of Z3,Z13‐18:OH and Z3,Z13‐18:OAc at the natural ratio should provide a sensitive and effective lure for monitoring populations of this pest.     

Female sex pheromone of a nettle caterpillar,Monema flavescens,in China

Monema flavescens Walker (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) is a multivoltine, generalist moth whose larvae cause serious damage to many types of trees. Pheromone lures prepared according to a study of a Japanese population were found to be ineffective at attracting M. flavescens nettle caterpillars in China, and some studies have shown intraspecific geographical differences in the composition of sex pheromones. We therefore reexamined the sex pheromone composition of M. flavescens in a Chinese population. In this study, the electroantennographically (EAG) active compounds in an extract from Chinese virgin females of M. flavescens were identified as (E)‐8‐decen‐1‐ol (E8‐10:OH), (Z)‐7,9‐decadien‐1‐ol (Z7,9‐10:OH), (Z)‐9,11‐dodecadien‐1‐ol (Z9,11‐12:OH), and (Z)‐9,11‐dodecadienal (Z9,11‐12:Ald) via coupled gas chromatographic‐electroantennographic detection (GC‐EAD) and coupled GC‐mass spectrometry (MS). Pheromone dimorphism might occur in this species, as this mixture of compounds in Chinese females was different from that of E8‐10:OH and E7,9‐10:OH extracted from Japanese females in previous research. In wind tunnel and field tests, the males were significantly attracted to a blend of the pheromone components E8‐10:OH, Z7,9‐10:OH, and Z9,11‐12:OH in a 100:5:4 ratio. The addition of Z9,11‐12:Ald did not change the male response. The optimized three‐component lure blend may provide a useful tool for monitoring and controlling Chinese populations of M. flavescens.     

Identification and field testing of sex pheromone components of a Korean population of the allium leafminer,Acrolepiopsis sapporensis

The allium leafminer, Acrolepiopsis sapporensis Matsumura (Lepidoptera: Acrolepiidae), is a pest of Allium species (Liliaceae) in Asia and Hawaii, USA. We identified candidate sex pheromone components in pheromone gland extracts of female moths and field tested the response of male moths to blends with different components and ratios. Gas chromatographic comparison of abdominal tip extracts from both sexes showed three female‐specific components: (Z)‐11‐hexadecenal (Z11‐16:Ald), (Z)‐11‐hexadecenyl acetate (Z11‐16:OAc), and (Z)‐11‐hexadecen‐1‐ol (Z11‐16:OH). These compounds were identified by mass spectral analysis of natural pheromone components and dimethyldisulfide adducts, and retention index comparisons with synthetic standards. The average ratio of three components, Z11‐16:Ald, Z11‐16:OAc, and Z11‐16:OH, in female extract was 33:100:14. Field trapping experiments indicated that all three components were essential for maximal attraction of male moths. Traps baited with a ternary blend mimicking the blend found in the pheromone gland extracts caught significantly more males than traps baited with caged live females. Increasing doses of the pheromone blend in the lures from 0.01 to 1.0 mg increased catches of male A. sapporensis.     

赤松毛虫性信息素次要组分的鉴定——组分、电生理和田间效果

用带有极性和非极性毛细柱的气相色谱(GC)分析赤松毛虫Dendrolimus spectabilis性信息素腺体提取物,发现腺体中除含有已鉴定的性信息素(顺,反)-5,7-十二碳二烯醇(Z5,E7-12∶OH)外,还有微量的(顺,反)-5,7-十二碳二烯醛(Z5,E7-12∶Ald)和(顺,反)-5,7-十二碳二烯乙酸酯(Z5,E7-12∶Oac),三种成分以100∶5-6±5-4∶3-2±1-8的比例存在。使用气相色谱-质谱选择性离子检测法（GC-MS-SIM）分析赤松毛虫腺体提取物,发现腺体中确实含有微量的Z5,E7-12∶Oac和痕量的Z5,E7-12∶Opr。赤松毛虫腺体提取物的气相色谱和触角电位检测联用（GC-EAD）分析发现只有Z5,E7-12∶OH能激起EAD反应,然而使用较高剂量的标准化合物进行GC-EAD分析发现Z5,E7-12∶OH、Z5,E7 12∶Oac和(顺,反)-5,7-十二碳二烯丙酸酯(Z5,E7-12∶Opr)均能刺激起EAD反应,而Z5,E7-12∶Ald则不能。触角电位（EAG）剂量-反应关系研究表明,当剂量变化范围在0.01～1 μg时,雄虫触角对Z5,E7-12∶OH最敏感,对Z5,E7-12∶Oac和Z5,E7-12∶Opr次之。田间试验表明,由Z5,E7-12∶OH, Z5,E7-12∶Oac和Z5,E7-12∶Opr配制的三组分诱芯,其诱蛾量显著高于由Z5,E7-12∶OH组成的单组分或是它与其乙酸酯或丙酸酯组成的两组分诱芯,当Z5,E7-12∶OH,Z5,E7-12∶Oac和Z5,E7-12∶Opr的比例为100∶3∶25时,诱蛾效果最佳。在上述三组分混合物中加入一定量的Z5,E7-12∶Ald,则对诱蛾有明显的抑制作用。上述事实表明,Z5,E7-12∶Oac和Z5,E7-12∶Opr是赤松毛虫性信息素的两种次要组分,而Z5,E7-12∶Ald则是信息素的抑制剂。     

Optimization and field evaluation of the sex pheromone of Trichophysetis cretacea (Lepidoptera,Crambidae) for pest monitoring

Field studies using the synthetic sex pheromone of Trichophysetis cretacea, a trinary blend of (Z)‐11‐hexadecenyl acetate (Z11‐16:OAc), (Z)‐11‐hexadecenal (Z11‐16:Ald) and (Z)‐11‐hexadecenol (Z11‐16:OH), were performed in Sichuan to determine operational parameters for detection and control, such as dispenser type, blend ratio, dosage, and trap type, height and density. Of three pheromone dispensers tested, grey halo‐butyl isoprene elastomeric septa were significantly more effective than polyvinyl chloride capillary tubing or silicone rubber septa. The ratio of the three components in the blend significantly affected moth catch. In the halo‐butyl isoprene septa, the most effective ratio was 5 : 2 : 1 Z11‐16:OAc:Z11‐16:Ald:Z11‐16:OH. Sticky wing traps caught significantly more moths than water, noctuid moth or cone funnel traps. The most effective height at which wing traps were hung was 20 cm above the jasmine plants. Optimum trap density was 45 traps per hectare. Addition of volatile jasmine compounds did not increase the attractiveness of the sex pheromone. A dosage of 50 μg Z11‐16:OAc per lure was most effective in the autumn weather conditions of Quanwei. These data provide sufficient information to develop effective protocols for using the T. cretacea pheromone to detect and monitor this pest in the jasmine fields.     

Geometric isomers of sex pheromone components do not affect attractancy of Conopomorpha cramerella in cocoa plantations

The cocoa pod borer (CPB), Conopomorpha cramerella (Snellen), sex pheromone was previously identified as a blend of (E,Z,Z)‐ and (E,E,Z)‐4,6,10‐hexadecatrienyl acetates and corresponding alcohols. These pheromone components were synthesized by modification of an existing method and the relative attractiveness of synthetic blends that included different levels of non‐target pheromone components and chemical purities was tested in a cocoa field using Delta traps. Male captures were not significantly different among traps baited with pheromone blends containing 5% to 47% (based on four identified pheromone components) of other geometric acetates [(E,Z,E)‐, (Z,Z,Z)‐, (Z,E,Z)‐ and (Z,E,E)‐4,6,10‐hexadecatrienyl acetates], indicating that C. cramerella males did not discriminate among the pheromone components and other geometric isomers in the blends. Therefore, neither antagonistic nor synergistic effects from other pheromone geometric isomers were observed. The modified synthetic pathway offers the prospect of more economical production of CPB sex pheromone. During 17 weeks when C. cramerella monitoring coincided with the main cocoa pod harvest period in 2013–2014, CPB trap catch data from some blends showed a good correlation with the number of pods with C. cramerella infestation symptoms.     

Odour quality discrimination for behavioural antagonist compounds in three tortricid species

The antennal and behavioural response of three tortricid species (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) to their corresponding sex pheromones and known or putative behavioural antagonists was tested by electroantennography and in field trials. The species and their pheromones and known or proposed behavioural antagonist were lightbrown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) [pheromone: 95% (E)‐11‐tetradecenyl acetate (E11‐14Ac) and 5% (E,E)‐9,11‐tetradecadienyl acetate (E9E11‐14Ac); antagonist: (Z)‐11‐tetradecenyl acetate (Z11‐14Ac)], codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) [pheromone: (E,E)‐8,10‐dodecadien‐1‐ol (codlemone); antagonist: (E,E)‐8,10‐dodecadienyl acetate (codlemone acetate)], and gorse pod moth, Cydia ulicetana (Haworth) [pheromone: (E,E)‐8,10‐dodecadienyl acetate (codlemone acetate); putative antagonist: (E,E)‐8,10‐dodecadien‐1‐ol (codlemone)]. In all three species, the antennal response to the antagonists was not significantly different from the antennal response to con‐specific sex pheromone compounds. In the field trapping experiments, significantly fewer males of all three species were attracted to the respective pheromone when blended with the behavioural antagonist compound. However, this response varied between the species, with lightbrown apple moth and codling moth showing stronger responses to the antagonist compounds than gorse pod moth. Both lightbrown apple moth and codling moth males were able to discriminate between pure pheromone and pheromone blended with the antagonist when placed in traps side‐by‐side separated by ca. 10 cm. The presence of the behavioural antagonist not only affected the catch of males of both species within their own traps but also affected the catch in the neighbouring trap that contained con‐specific sex pheromone; the catch of gorse pod moth was not reduced by the presence of codlemone in the neighbouring trap. These results suggest that strong behavioural antagonists such as codlemone acetate for codling moth and Z11‐14Ac for lightbrown apple moth induce their inhibition effect at a substantial distance downwind from the odour source; however, most of those males that were able to overcome this inhibition effect at the early stage of orientation to odour source, were able to discriminate between the pheromone source and the pheromone source admixed with behavioural antagonist. Moderate behavioural antagonists such as codlemone for gorse pod moth did not elicit a discrimination effect.     

Sex pheromone of Ostrinia sp. newly found on the leopard plant Farfugium japonicum

Recently, larvae of Ostrinia were found feeding on the leopard plant Farfugium japonicum (Asteraceae), previously unrecorded as a host plant of this genus. The adult moths that developed from these borers were morphologically similar to, but distinct from, Ostrinia zaguliaevi, a monophagous species specialized for feeding on another Asteraceae plant, the butterbur Petasites japonicus. Although the taxonomical status of the moth feeding on F. japonicum is to be determined, distinct morphological differences in the adults strongly suggest this to be a new species (hereafter referred to as O. sp.). To gain an insight into the reproductive isolation between O. sp. and other members of the genus Ostrinia, the female sex pheromone and the males’ response to it were investigated using samples collected from F. japonicum. (Z)‐9‐tetradecenyl acetate (Z9‐14:OAc), (Z)‐11‐tetradecenyl acetate (Z11‐14:OAc), (E)‐11‐tetradecenyl acetate (E11‐14:OAc), tetradecyl acetate, and (Z)‐11‐hexadecenyl acetate were identified as candidates for sex pheromone components by analyses using gas chromatographs coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC‐MS) and electroantennographic detector (GC‐EAD). A series of bioassays of male responses in a wind‐tunnel and a field cage indicated that the former three compounds are essential for attracting males, and the latter two have no synergistic effect on the attraction. We therefore concluded that Z9‐14:OAc, Z11‐14:OAc and E11‐14:OAc are the sex pheromone components of O. sp. Although the same three compounds are used as the sex pheromone components of O. zaguliaevi and another congener, Ostrinia zealis, the blend proportions differed greatly among the three (Z9‐14:OAc/Z11‐14:OAc/E11‐14:OAc = 18/76/6 in O. sp., 45/50/5 in O. zaguliaevi and 70/6/24 in O. zealis). Differences in sex pheromones could contribute to the reproductive isolation between O. sp. and the other two Ostrinia species if males of each species exhibit a narrow window of response to their own blend ratio.     

Electrophysiological and behavioural evidence for a fourth sex pheromone component in the turnip moth, Agrotis segetum

Abstract. In addition to the pheromone components (Z)-5-decenyl, (Z)-7-dodecenyl and (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z5-10:OAc, Z7-12:OAc and Z9-14:OAc), it has previously been shown that the sex pheromone gland of the turnip moth, Agrotis segetum (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae Schiff) contains 10:OAc, 12:OAc, Z5-12:OAc, Z9-12:OAc, 11–12:OAc, Z5-14:OAc, Z7-14:OAc and Z11-16:OAc. To find out whether any of these additional compounds is involved in the sex pheromone communication in A. segetum, a comprehensive electro-physiological and behavioural investigation was conducted. Single-sensillum recordings on male antennae revealed three subtypes of sensilla among the previously so-called Z5-10:OAc sensilla. One subtype was identified having one receptor neurone (A) that responded to Z5-10:OAc with a large spike amplitude and another neurone (B) that responded to (Z)-5-decenol (Z5-10:OH) with a small spike amplitude. In another subtype the B neurone responded to Z5-12:OAc and sometimes also to 27-12:OAc and 10:OAc, in addition to responding to Z5-10:OH. In a third subtype the A neurone responded to all acetates identified from the female pheromone gland, whereas the small spike amplitude neurone was tuned to Z5-10:OH. A flight tunnel assay showed that blends composed of nine, eight or seven compounds were equivalent to the previously identified three-component pheromone blend in eliciting male behavioural responses. In field trapping tests, blends of eleven, nine or seven compounds did, however, catch significantly more moths than the three-component blend. Further assays showed that only 25- 12:OAc could significantly increase the catch numbers when added to the three-component blend, and thus qualified as a fourth pheromone component in A. segerum. The behavioural significance of additional female-produced acetates — for which males possess antennal receptors — is suggested, but may be impossible to confirm because of ‘diminishing returns’ when trying to refine a multicomponent pheromone further.     

Identification and field attraction of the female sex pheromone of a kiwifruit pest,Nokona feralis (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae)

Female sex pheromone of a clearwing moth Nokona feralis (Leech) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), a pest of kiwifruit, was identified to be a 7:3 mixture of (3E,13Z)-3,13-octadecadienyl acetate (E3,Z13-18:OAc) and (3E,13Z)-3,13-octadecadien-1-ol (E3,Z13-18:OH) by GC-EAD and GC/MS analyses. Males were attracted to wide-range mixtures of E3,Z13-18:OAc and E3,Z13-18:OH, and a 7:3 mixture of those two compounds strongly attracted the males in the field.     

Variability in the efficacy of sex pheromone lures for monitoring oriental fruit moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Studies were conducted in Chile and the United States to compare the attractiveness of various commercial sex pheromone lures and two experimental lures for oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck), in peach orchards treated with or without sex pheromone dispensers. The experimental lures contained the three‐component sex pheromone blend of G. molesta: Z‐8‐dodecenyl acetate, E‐8‐dodecenyl acetate and Z‐8‐dodecenol (Z8‐12:OH), and the sex pheromone of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), (E,E)‐8,10‐dodecadien‐1‐ol, (codlemone). Commercial lures varied in their substrate, initial loading and blend ratio of components. Significant differences in male catches were found among commercial lures in orchards treated with or without sex pheromone dispensers. Experimental lures with the addition of codlemone significantly increased the catches of G. molesta using lures loaded with 0%, 1% or 5% Z8‐12:OH in the G. molesta blend compared with the same ratio of components in just the G. molesta blend. The experimental lures were significantly more attractive than all commercial lures in the untreated orchard. However, moth catch with the experimental lures in the sex pheromone‐treated orchard was only intermediate among all of the lures tested. These findings highlight the need to develop more effective and standardized lures that can be used in trap‐based monitoring programme for this important pest.     

榆木蠹蛾雄蛾对性信息素不同组分及其不同比例和剂量混合物的风洞行为反应

【目的】本研究旨在深入了解榆木蠹蛾Holcocerus vicarius(Walker)信息素通讯系统。【方法】在风洞中观察了榆木蠹蛾雄蛾对合成性信息素不同组分及其不同比例及剂量混合物的行为反应。【结果】单组分试验结果表明,仅有Z7-14:Ac能够引起少量雄蛾完成从兴奋到接触诱芯并出现预交尾的全部行为反应,其余4个单组分(E3-14:Ac,Z3E5-14:Ac,E3-14:OH和Z3-14:OH)只能引起雄蛾兴奋,均不能引起雄蛾向性信息素源定向飞行。二元混合物(Z7-14:Ac+E3-14:Ac)明显增加雄蛾完整的性行为反应比例,三元混合物(Z7-14:Ac+E3-14:Ac+Z3E5-14:Ac)比例为10∶4∶4,剂量为1 300μg时有71.7%雄蛾发生预交尾,剂量为1 000μg时有70.3%雄蛾发生预交尾,两者差异不显著(P0.05)。【结论】榆木蠹蛾风洞行为实验为进一步研究其性信息素相关生物学特性及应用性信息素对榆木蠹蛾进行综合防治奠定了基础。