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Determining pheromone content of hairpencils from individual virgin males ofPseudaletia unipuncta (Haw.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

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Abstract

Levels of benzaldehyde recovered from virginPseudaletia unipuncta (Haw.) males were not influenced by (1) the time hairpencils remained in the solvent (1-72 hr), (2) anesthetization or agitation of males prior to excision of hairpencils, or (3) the time (photophase or scotophase) that hairpencils were excised. Thus the interindividual variability observed is not a methodological artifact. Most males had similar concentrations in both hairpencils, although in some cases only one hairpencil contained pheromone. In one case, a male with partially extruded hairpencils had no benzaldehyde at all. Neither pupal weight nor hairpencil length proved to be reliable indicators of pheromone content.

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Contribution No. 373, Département de biologie, Université Laval.

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Fitzpatrick, S.M., Miller, D., Weatherston, I. et al. Determining pheromone content of hairpencils from individual virgin males ofPseudaletia unipuncta (Haw.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). J Chem Ecol 11, 207–215 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988203

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988203

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