Evaluation of (Z)-9-tricosene baited targets for control of the housefly (Musca domestica) in outdoor situations

Houseflies (Musca domestica L.) are a major pest species in a variety of outdoor situations, notably on and around livestock farms and landfill used for the disposal of domestic waste. Currently no effective options are available for control of houseflies outdoors, because many populations exhibit at least some resistance to all available synthetic pesticides. (Z)‐9‐tricosene is the only commercially available pheromone for use in lure‐and‐kill approaches to housefly control, and it is widely used in indoor livestock units in combination with sugar/insecticide bait. Here we examine the potential of this approach for use outdoors, on a landfill site. We investigate the efficacy of toxic targets painted with a sugar/insecticide/(Z)‐9‐tricosene mix. The effects of target size and pheromone concentration were examined in two replicate trials, conducted in June and September 2003. As expected, catch consisted largely of males, was consistently higher on larger traps, and generally increased with (Z)‐9‐tricosene concentration even up to very high levels. However, in repeated trials, and despite mass release of marked flies, catch rates appeared to be insufficient to provide adequate control. We suggest that this is probably because (Z)‐9‐tricosene is primarily a short‐range attractant, and fly populations in outdoor situations are generally distributed over a large area. Catch declined rapidly to zero within 2 weeks, indicating that improved formulation or target design is needed to slow the weathering of active ingredients on the targets. It seems unlikely that (Z)‐9‐tricosene is sufficiently attractive to houseflies to provide an effective and economic lure in outdoor situations.     

The mating system of the true fruit fly Bactrocera tryoni and its sister species,Bactrocera neohumeralis

The frugivorous “true” fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Queensland fruit fly), is presumed to have a nonresourced‐based lek mating system. This is largely untested, and contrary data exists to suggest Bactrocera tryoni may have a resource‐based mating system focused on fruiting host plants. We tested the mating system of Bactrocera tryoni, and its close sibling Bactrocera neohumeralis, in large field cages using laboratory reared flies. We used observational experiments that allowed us to determine if: (i) mating pairs were aggregated or nonaggregated; (ii) mating system was resource or nonresource based; (iii) flies utilized possible landmarks (tall trees over short) as mate‐rendezvous sites; and (iv) males called females from male‐dominated leks. We recorded nearly 250 Bactrocera tryoni mating pairs across all experiments, revealing that: (i) mating pairs were aggregated; (ii) mating nearly always occurred in tall trees over short; (iii) mating was nonresource based; and (iv) that males and females arrived at the mate‐rendezvous site together with no evidence that males preceded females. Bactrocera neohumeralis copulations were much more infrequent (only 30 mating pairs in total), but for those pairs there was a similar preference for tall trees and no evidence of a resource‐based mating system. Some aspects of Bactrocera tryoni mating behavior align with theoretical expectations of a lekking system, but others do not. Until evidence for unequivocal female choice can be provided (as predicted under a true lek), the mating system of Bactrocera tryoni is best described as a nonresource based, aggregation system for which we also have evidence that land‐marking may be involved.     

Effect of pheromone components when applied to different models on male sexual behaviour in the housefly,Musca domestica

Male mating behaviour was studied by treating a pseudofly, newly emerged female or male fly, with all possible combinations of (Z)-9-tricosene, the non-hydrocarbon fraction and the methylalkane fraction. All dosages were at physiological levels. Striking behaviour, both mating and homosexual, were increased by tricosene. When the non-hydrocarbon fraction was added to the tricosene, homosexual strikes decreased while mating strikes increased. This indicates that the non-hydrocarbon fraction contains sex recognition factors. Increased copulatory attempts were observed with the non-hydrocarbon fraction and the methylalkane fraction but not with the tricosene. The amount of time spent with the model, an arrestant effect, was determined by the methylalkane fraction.     

Volatile compounds emitted by Triatoma dimidiata,a vector of Chagas disease: chemical analysis and behavioural evaluation

In this study, we evaluated the responses of Triatoma dimidiata Latreille (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) to volatiles emitted by conspecific females, males, mating pairs and metasternal gland (MG) extracts with a Y‐tube olfactometer. The volatile compounds released by mating pairs and MGs of T. dimidiata were identified using solid‐phase microextraction and coupled gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). Females were not attracted to volatiles emitted by males or MG extracts; however, they preferred clean air to their own volatiles or those from mating pairs. Males were attracted to volatiles emitted by males, females, mating pairs, pairs in which the male had the MG orifices occluded or MG extracts of both sexes. However, males were not attracted to volatiles emitted by pairs in which the female had the MG orifices occluded. The chemical analyses showed that 14 and 15 compounds were detected in the headspace of mating pairs and MG, respectively. Most of the compounds identified from MG except for isobutyric acid were also detected in the headspace of mating pairs. Both females and males were attracted to octanal and 6‐methyl‐5‐hepten‐2‐one, and males were attracted to 3,5‐dimethyl‐2‐hexanol. Males but not females were attracted to a seven‐compound blend, formulated from compounds identified in attractive MG extracts.     

Methoprene application and diet protein supplementation to male melon fly,Bactrocera cucurbitae,modifies female remating behavior

Methoprene (an analogue of juvenile hormone) application and feeding on a protein diet is known to enhance male melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae Coquillett (Diptera: Tephritidae), mating success. In this study, we investigated the effect of these treatments on male B. cucurbitae's ability to inhibit female remating. While 14‐d‐old females were fed on protein diet, 6‐d‐old males were exposed to one of the following treatments: (i) topical application of methoprene and fed on a protein diet; (ii) no methoprene but fed on a protein diet; (iii) methoprene and sugar‐fed only; and (iv) sugar‐fed, 14‐d‐old males acted as controls. Treatments had no effect on a male's ability to depress the female remating receptivity in comparison to the control. Females mated with protein‐deprived males showed higher remating receptivity than females first mated with protein‐fed males. Methoprene and protein diet interaction had a positive effect on male mating success during the first and second mating of females. Significantly more females first mated with sugar‐fed males remated with protein‐fed males and females first mated with methoprene treated and protein‐fed males were more likely to remate with similarly treated males. Females mating latency (time to start mating) was significantly shorter with protein‐fed males, and mating duration was significantly longer with protein‐fed males compared with protein‐deprived males. These results are discussed in the context of methoprene and/or dietary protein as prerelease treatment of sterile males in area‐wide control of melon fly integrating the sterile insect technique (SIT).     

The production of female sex pheromone in Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) young males does not influence their mating chances

In Bactrocera oleae females attract males, which is in contrast to the majority of Tephritidae. However, the major component of the secretion of the female rectal ampulla glands, 1,7‐dioxaspiro‐[5,5]‐undecane (DSU), was also isolated from the glands of young males. The DSU produced by females and young males attracts males, but not females. In this study, we investigated the role of the production of DSU in young males. The mating performances of young and old males were evaluated, as well as the male‐male courtships by old males oriented at young and old males. Young males were found not to have a mating advantage. Young males were courted more by other males. Frame‐by‐frame analysis of male wing vibrations showed that this behavior did not differ when oriented at females and young males, highlighting that young males are perceived as females by the courting males. Overall, the production of DSU in young B. oleae males did not seem to be a case of female chemical mimicry. The hypothesis that young olive fruit fly males could benefit indirectly from the DSU production, simply distracting mature males away from females, is discussed.     

Identification and field and laboratory tests of the sex pheromone of Cerconota anonella Sepp. (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae)

The Annona fruit borer, Cerconota anonella Sepp., is a serious agricultural pest in many tropical areas of the world. The identification of an attractant for male C. anonella could offer new methods for pest detection and control. A mixture of compounds extracted from female C. anonella elicited antennal depolarization in the male borer. These compounds were identified as octadecanal, 1‐octadecanol, octadecyl acetate, (Z)‐octadec‐9‐enal (Z9‐18:Ald), (Z)‐octadec‐9‐en‐1‐ol (Z9‐18:OH) and [(Z)‐octadec‐9‐enyl] acetate (Z9‐18:Ac) by one‐ and two‐dimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. In laboratory bioassays, synthetic individual compounds as well as synthetic mixtures were found to be attractive to males. In addition, field tests using Delta traps with 1 mg of the ternary mixture composed of Z9‐18:Ac, Z9‐18:Ald and Z9‐18:OH in the ratio of 1 : 3 : 5 caught as many males as traps containing virgin females. The ternary mixture of Z9‐18:Ac, Z9‐18:Ald and Z9‐18:OH was identified as attractant to C. anonella males and can be used to detect and control populations of this insect in Annonaceae plantations.     

Cuticular Hydrocarbon Profiles Differentiate Tropical Fire Ant Populations (Solenopsis geminata,Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) from hexane rinses of workers from two Florida populations (dark and red forms) of the tropical fire ant, Solenopsis geminata, were separated by silica gel chromatography and identified by GC/MS analysis. Both the dark form and the red form produce similar CHCs with carbon chain lengths ranging from 17 to 35. However, the relative percentages of these CHCs were consistently different between the two color forms. The largest CHC component in the dark form is tricosane, and (Z)‐9‐tricosene for the red form. There were several significant differences in percent composition. For example, the dark form was characterized by a low tricosene:tricosane ratio (ca. 0.25), whereas this ratio was > 2.5 for the red form. The ratio of tricosene:tricosane can be used as a diagnostic biomarker to delimit the dark and red forms. Cluster analysis showed that the CHCs patterns of dark form colonies are completely separated from the CHC pattern of red form colonies. Differences in social behaviors like nestmate recognition and polygyny between workers from this dark form and the red form await further investigation.     

Identification of two components of the female sex pheromone of the sugarcane‐borer Diatraea flavipennella (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Analysis by gas chromatography with electroantennographic detection of extracts of pheromone glands derived from calling females of the sugarcane‐borer Diatraea flavipennella revealed two antennally active compounds. These components were identified as (Z)‐9‐hexadecenal (Z9–16:Ald) and (Z)‐11‐hexadecenal (Z11–16:Ald) by comparison of the retention times of the natural compounds and the synthetic compounds supported by two‐dimensional gas chromatography – time‐of‐flight mass spectrometric analysis and the positions of the double bounds in the chains were confirmed from the mass spectral fragmentation patterns of their dimethyldisulphide adducts. The analysis indicated that Z9–16:Ald and Z11–16:Ald were present in the sex pheromone in the proportions 25 : 75. Trace amounts of tetradecanal, hexadecanal, (Z)‐7‐hexadecenal (Z7–16:Ald), (Z)‐9‐hexadecen‐1‐ol and (Z)‐11‐hexadecen‐1‐ol were also found in the extract, but of these only Z9–16:Ald and Z11–16:Ald appeared to be antennally active. Behavioural bioassays demonstrated that a binary blend composed of Z9–16:Ald and Z11–16:Ald in the ratio of 25 : 75 induced a response in D. flavipennella virgin males similar to that elicited by live virgin females or by an hexane extract of the pheromone glands of calling females. Z9–16:Ald and Z11–16:Ald are, therefore, considered to be the major constituents of the female sex pheromone of D. flavipennella.     

Variation in the benefits of multiple mating on female fertility in wild stalk‐eyed flies

Polyandry, female mating with multiple males, is widespread across many taxa and almost ubiquitous in insects. This conflicts with the traditional idea that females are constrained by their comparatively large investment in each offspring, and so should only need to mate once or a few times. Females may need to mate multiply to gain sufficient sperm supplies to maintain their fertility, especially in species in which male promiscuity results in division of their ejaculate among many females. Here, we take a novel approach, utilizing wild‐caught individuals to explore how natural variation among females and males influences fertility gains for females. We studied this in the Malaysian stalk‐eyed fly species Teleopsis dalmanni. After an additional mating, females benefit from greatly increased fertility (proportion fertile eggs). Gains from multiple mating are not uniform across females; they are greatest when females have high fecundity or low fertility. Fertility gains also vary spatially, as we find an additional strong effect of the stream from which females were collected. Responses were unaffected by male mating history (males kept with females or in male‐only groups). Recent male mating may be of lesser importance because males in many species, including T. dalmanni, partition their ejaculate to maintain their fertility over many matings. This study highlights the importance of complementing laboratory studies with data on wild‐caught populations, where there is considerable heterogeneity between individuals. Future research should focus on environmental, demographic and genetic factors that are likely to significantly influence variation in individual female fecundity and fertility.     

Heteroduplex molecules cause sexing errors in a standard molecular protocol for avian sexing

Molecular methods are a necessary tool for sexing monomorphic birds. These molecular approaches are usually reliable, but sexing protocols should be evaluated carefully because biochemical interactions may lead to errors. We optimized laboratory protocols for genetic sexing of a monomorphic shorebird, the upland sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda), using two independent sets of primers, P2/P8 and 2550F/2718R, to amplify regions of the sex‐linked CHD‐Z and CHD‐W genes. We discovered polymorphisms in the region of the CHD‐Z intron amplified by the primers P2/P8 which caused four males to be misidentified as females (n = 90 mated pairs). We cloned and sequenced one CHD‐W allele (370 bp) and three CHD‐Z alleles in our population: Z° (335 bp), Z′ (331 bp) and Z″ (330 bp). Normal (Z°Z°) males showed one band in agarose gel analysis and were easily differentiated from females (Z°W), which showed two bands. However, males heterozygous for CHD‐Z alleles (Z′Z″) unexpectedly showed two bands in a pattern similar to females. While the Z′ and Z″ fragments contained only short deletions, they annealed together during the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) process and formed heteroduplex molecules that were similar in size to the W fragment. Errors previously reported for molecular sex‐assignment have usually been due to allelic dropout, causing females to be misidentified as males. Here, we report evidence that events in PCRs can lead to the opposite error, with males misidentified as females. We recommend use of multiple primer sets and large samples of known‐sex birds for validation when designing protocols for molecular sex analysis.     

The effects of male harassment on mating duration in the seed bug,Togo hemipterus

Harassment on mating pairs by solitary males is usually considered an attempt by the male to (1) take over the female, (2) guard the female against further insemination (when the solitary male has previously copulated with this female), or (3) influence mating duration. Paired males of a seed bug repel harassment on mating pairs by solitary males by firmly grasping females using their legs and/or genital claspers; in this way, mating duration is prolonged. Male fertilization success increases as mating duration increases. Males of the seed bug, Togo hemipterus (Scott) (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae), use seminal substances to inhibit female remating. These substances induce protracted female refractory periods and are transferred to the females in a time‐dependent manner. Consequently, mating duration has important effects on fitness in this species. We observed harassment on T. hemipterus mating pairs by solitary males, and examined conflicts between paired and solitary males over mating duration. None of the solitary males were able to take over a mating female, and this may be due to the unique male genital structure in this species. All conflicts over mating duration resulted in wins by the paired males over the solitary males. Paired males prolonged mating durations, whereas severe harassment on mating pairs by solitary males shortened durations. We show that even though there is no immediate reward for the solitary male (i.e., it is unable to take over the mating female), this harassment behavior may be adaptive.     

Female response to predation risk alters conspecific male behaviour during pre‐copulatory mate guarding

Mating behaviour often increases predation risk, but the vulnerability within mating pairs differs between the sexes. Such a sex difference is expected to lead to differences in responses to predation risk between the sexes. In the two‐spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae, males engage in pre‐copulatory mate guarding because only the first mating results in fertilisation. We investigated (i) whether pre‐copulatory pairs are more conspicuous to the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis than solitary females, (ii) whether the vulnerability to the predator differs between sexes within the pre‐copulatory pair, (iii) whether each sex of T. urticae responds to predation risk during pre‐copulatory mate guarding and (iv) whether T. urticae's response to predation risk affects predator behaviour. Because T. urticae females are immobile during pre‐copulatory mate guarding, we observed male behaviour to evaluate effects of predation risk. We found that the predators detect more pre‐copulatory pairs than solitary females and that more females than males of the pre‐copulatory pairs are preyed upon by the predators. The preference of spider mite males for pre‐copulatory pairs versus solitary females was affected by whether or not the female had been exposed to predators during development. Male T. urticae exposed to predation risk did not alter their behaviour. These results suggest that only the most vulnerable sex, that is the female, responds to predation risk, which modifies male behaviour. Regardless of T. urticae females’ experience, however, P. persimilis detected more T. urticae pre‐copulatory pairs than solitary females, suggesting that pre‐copulatory mate guarding itself is dangerous for T. urticae females when these predators are present. We discuss our results in the context of sex‐dependent differences in predation risk.     

Allyl‐2,6‐dimethoxyphenol,a female‐biased compound,is robustly attractive to conspecific males of Bactrocera dorsalis at close range

Insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) play important roles in mate recognition and chemical communication. To explore the cues regulating courtship and mating behaviour in the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), CHCs were extracted from mature virgin female and male oriental fruit flies using n‐hexane. Nine compounds – i.e., 4‐allyl‐2,6‐dimethoxyphenol (designated ‘compound 3’) and eight ester compounds – had significantly greater abundance in female samples than in males. Of these nine compounds, six (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8) elicited electrophysiological responses from the antennae of male flies. Compound 3 did not elicit a detectable male antennal response, but in Y‐tube olfactometer bioassays, it exhibited robust attractiveness to conspecific males at close range. We speculate that compound 3 is a close‐range sex pheromone in B. dorsalis. A mating competition experiment revealed that compound 3 significantly increased the competitiveness of males, which implied that compound 3 might be used in control programs of B. dorsalis.     

Rhythmic egg-laying behaviour in virgin females of fruit flies Drosophila melanogaster

Fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster females display rhythmic egg-laying under 12:12?h light/dark (LD) cycles which persists with near 24?h periodicity under constant darkness (DD). We have shown previously that persistence of this rhythm does not require the neurons expressing pigment dispersing factor (PDF), thought to be the canonical circadian pacemakers, and proposed that it could be controlled by peripheral clocks or regulated/triggered by the act of mating. We assayed egg-laying behaviour of wild-type Canton S (CS) females under LD, DD and constant light (LL) conditions in three different physiological states; as virgins, as females allowed to mate with males for 1?day and as females allowed to mate for the entire duration of the assay. Here, we report the presence of a circadian rhythm in egg-laying in virgin D. melanogaster females. We also found that egg-laying behaviour of 70 and 90% females from all the three male presence/absence protocols follows circadian rhythmicity under DD and LL, with periods ranging between 18 and 30?h. The egg-laying rhythm of all virgin females synchronized to LD cycles with a peak occurring soon after lights-off. The rhythm in virgins was remarkably robust with maximum number of eggs deposited immediately after lights-off in contrast to mated females which show higher egg-laying during the day. These results suggest that the egg-laying rhythm of D. melanogaster is endogenously driven and is neither regulated nor triggered by the act of mating; instead, the presence of males results in reduction in entrainment to LD cycles.     

Long‐term evaluation of field‐wide oriental beetle (Col., Scarabaeidae) mating disruption in blueberries using female‐mimic pheromone lures

The oriental beetle, Anomala orientalis (Waterhouse) (Col., Scarabaeidae), is the most important root‐feeding pest of blueberries and turfgrass in New Jersey, USA. Previous studies showed that mating disruption is a feasible option for oriental beetle management; however, assessing its efficiency can be challenging, and little is known on its long‐term effects. Accordingly, we conducted studies to investigate low‐dose pheromone lures equivalent to oriental beetle females (i.e. female mimics) as easy‐to‐use indicators of mating disruption success, determine the distance at which oriental beetle males respond to female‐mimic lures and assess the long‐term (3‐year) effects of mating disruption on oriental beetle populations in entire blueberry fields. Our studies showed that rubber septa baited with 0.3 μg of the oriental beetle sex pheromone (Z)‐7‐tetradecen‐2‐one attract similar numbers of males as compared with virgin females and can thus be used as a female mimic. The range of attraction of this lure was found to be also similar to virgin females and <30 m. In blueberries, mating disruption provided 87% inhibition of oriental beetle populations (trap shutdown) over a 3‐year period. Oriental beetle male captures in disrupted fields were threefold higher along the field edges than in the field interiors, indicating movement of males from nearby areas into the pheromone‐treated fields. In addition, mating disruption reduced male attraction to female‐mimic lures by 93% in all 3 years and reduced the number of larvae in sentinel potted plants in 1 of 2 years. These results show for the first time that mating disruption provides consistent long‐term field‐wide control of oriental beetle populations and that female‐mimic pheromone lures can be used as a new tool to assess oriental beetle mating disruption success.     

No reduction of female sexual receptivity following mating in a stalk‐eyed fly,Cyrtodiopsis dalmanni (Diptera: Diopsidae)

The level of female sexual receptivity is an important component of male and female reproductive success. In many insects, mating itself causes a sharp decline in female receptivity. This can be a direct result of the physical act of mating, or because of actions of sperm or seminal fluid proteins. The degree to which males can decrease female receptivity will directly affect their reproductive success, by altering the chance that their sperm will be used in fertilizations in the interval before the female mates again. In this study, we investigated the effect of mating on female receptivity in the sexually dimorphic stalk‐eyed fly, Cyrtodiopsis dalmanni. Our results showed no evidence for mating‐induced reductions in female receptivity. In addition, we found that matings with males that differed in eyespan did not cause differences in the level of female receptivity. There was also no evidence that females remated sooner when presented with large eyespan males. These results are surprising, given the indirect benefits that females gain from matings with large eyespan males. Finally we demonstrate that males do not appear to discriminate between females on the basis of female mating status.     

Disparity in sexual behaviour between wild and mass‐reared Mexican fruit flies

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is currently used to control Mexican fruit fly Anastrepha ludens Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae). However, mass‐rearing can alter the quality of released males. If males that are mass‐reared have behaviours different from those of their wild counterparts, then this may diminish the effectiveness of SIT. Questions remain as to whether wild females may be able to detect the male condition before, during and/or after copulation with a mass‐reared male. In the present study, copula duration, female remating, female fecundity and fertility of both mass‐reared and wild A. ludens are evaluated. Marked differences are found between mass‐reared and wild females. Specifically, mating latency is longer and copula duration is shorter for wild females compared with mass‐reared females. Importantly, there are no significant differences in mating latency, copula duration or remating probability between wild females paired with either mass‐reared or wild males. All mass‐reared females remate, whereas only approximately half of the wild females remate after first mating with either a wild or mass‐reared male. Fecundity of wild females mated to either wild or mass‐reared males is approximately one‐third lower than that of mass‐reared females, confirming that mass‐reared females may have been selected for high fecundity and are adapted to laboratory conditions. Fertility of females that mate with a wild male for only 10 min is not significantly different from that achieved via a full‐length copulation. By contrast, females mating with mass‐reared males need copulation durations of at least 40 min to achieve fertility comparable with that achieved via a full‐length copulation. The findings of the present study have important implications for A. ludens controlled through SIT and broaden our understanding on the copulatory and post‐copulatory behaviours between wild females and mass‐reared males.     

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 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.