Abstract
Ovipositor washings from virgin femaleEarias vittella (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) moths were examined by gas chromatography (GC) linked to electroantennography (EAG). Six components were detected by the male moth. These were identified by comparison of their retention times with those of a range of synthetic standards on fused silica capillary GC columns as hexadecanal, (Z)-11-hexadecenal, (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienal, octadecanal, (Z)-11-octadecenal, and (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadien-1-ol in 1∶2∶10∶2∶4∶1 ratio. Field testing in Pakistan showed that a 2∶10∶2 mixture of (Z)-11-hexadecenal, (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienal, and (Z)-11-octadecenal was as attractive to maleE. vittella moths as the six-component mixture and equal in attractiveness to a virgin female moth. Omitting (Z)-11-hexadecenal or (Z)-11-octadecenal greatly reduced this attractiveness. It was found that synthetic lures must be protected from sunlight to prevent loss of attractiveness caused by isomerization of the conjugated diene aldehyde, and addition of (E,Z)-10,12-hexadecadienal, one of the products of isomerization, was shown to reduce attractiveness significantly. During this work, a 10∶1 mixture of (E,E)-10, 12-hexadecadienal and (Z)-11-hexadecenal was shown to be as attractive toE. insulana (Boisd.) male moths as a virgin female moth, and the attractiveness of this mixture was further increased by addition of (E,Z)-10,12-hexadecadienal.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arn, H.,Toth, M., andPriesner, E. 1986. List of sex pheromones of Lepidoplera and related attractants. OILB-SROP/IOBC-WPRS, France.
Beevor, P.S., Cork, A., Hall, D.R., Nesbitt, B.F., Day, R.K., andMumford, J.D. 1986. Components of female sex pheromone of cocoa pod borer moth,Conopomorpha cramerella.J. Chem. Ecol. 12:1–23.
Bierl, B.A., Beroza, M., Staten, R.T., Sonnet, P.E., andAdler, V.E. 1974. The pink bollworm sex attractant.J. Econ. Entomol. 67:211–216.
Cork, A., Beevor, P.S., Hall, D.R., Nesbitt, B.F., andCampion, D.G. 1985a. A sex attractant for the spotted bollworm,Earias vittella.Trop. Pest Manage. 31:158.
Cork, A., Beevor, P.S., Hall, D.R., Nesbitt, B.F., Arida, G.S., andMochida, O. 1985b. Components of the female sex pheromone of the yellow stem borer,Scirpophaga incertulas.Entomol. Exp. Appl. 37:149–153.
Dunkelblum, E., Kehat, M., Klug, J.T., andSham, A. 1984. Trimerization ofEarias insulana sex pheromone, (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienal, a phenomenon affecting trapping efficiency.J. Chem. Ecol. 10:421–428.
Grob, K., andZurcher, F. 1976. Stripping of organic trace substances from water. Equipment and procedure.J. Chromatogr. 117:285–294.
Hall, D.R., Beevor, P.S., Lester, R., andNesbitt, B.F. 1980. (E,E)-10,12-Hexadecadienal: A component of the sex pheromone of the spiny bollworm,Earias insulana (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).Experientia 36:152–153.
Henrick, C.A., Willy, W.E., Baum, J.W., Baer, T.A., Garcia, B.A., Mastre, T.A., andChang, S.M. 1975. Stereoselective synthesis of alkyl (2E,4E)- and (2Z,4E)-3,7,11-trimethyl-2,4-dodecadienoates. Insect growth regulators with juvenile hormone activity.J. Org. Chem. 40:1–7.
Klug, J.T.,Skorka, J., andShani, A. 1982. A short synthesis of (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienal: The main component of the female sex pheromone of the spiny bollworm (Earias insulana).Chem. Ind. 372–373.
Nesbitt, B.F., Beevor, P.S., Hall, D.R., Lester, R., Davies, J.C., andSeshu Reddy, K.V. 1979a. Components of the sex pheromone of the female spotted stalk borer,Chilo partellus. (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae): Identification and preliminary field trials.J. Chem. Ecol. 5:153–163.
Nesbitt, B.F., Beevor, P.S., Hall, D.R., andLester, R. 1979b. Female sex pheromone of the cotton bollworm,Heliothis armigera.J. Insect Physiol. 25:535–541.
Tumlinson, J.H., Heath, R.R., andTeal, P.E.A. 1982. Analysis of chemical communications systems of Lepidoptera, pp. 1–25,in B.A. Leonhardt and M. Beroza (eds.). Insect Pheromone Technology: Chemistry and Applications. ACS Symposium Series190. American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cork, A., Chamberlain, D.J., Beevor, P.S. et al. Components of female sex pheromone of spotted bollworm,Earias vittella F. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Identification and field evaluation in Pakistan. J Chem Ecol 14, 929–945 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01018784
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01018784
Key words
- Spotted bollworm
- Earias vittella
- spiny bollworm
- Earias insulana
- Lepidoptera
- Noctuidae
- gas chromatography
- electroantennography
- pheromone traps
- hexadecanal
- (Z)-11-hexadecenal
- (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienal
- (Z,E)-10,12-hexadecadienal
- (E,Z)-10,12-hexadecadienal
- octadecanal
- (Z)-11-octadecenal
- (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadien-1-ol