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Variation in relative quantities of airborne sex pheromone components from individual femaleEphestia cautella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

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Abstract

The airborne sex pheromone components (Z,E)-9,12-tetradeca-dien-1-yl acetate and (Z)-9-tetradecen-1-y1 acetate from single calling females ofEphestia cautella (Walker) were trapped within glass capillary tubes and were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Broad and similar distributions of relative quantities were found for a laboratory strain and three Australian field strains, and means differed strongly from those reported previously for this species. The overall mean proportion of the two components found for Australian females was 88∶12. The composition in individuals ranged from 63∶27 to 97∶3. The proportions for individuals appeared to vary slightly in a random fashion from day to day, and proportions for first-generation progeny were influenced by the maternal blend.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIRO Division of Entomology, G.P.O. Box 1700, ACT 2601, Canberra, Australia

    P. M. Barrer & M. J. Lacey

  2. Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University, 84105, Be'er Sheva, Israel

    A. Shani

  3. Sabbatical leave from BGU at the Division of Entomology, CSIRO, Canberra

    A. Shani

Authors
  1. P. M. Barrer
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  2. M. J. Lacey
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  3. A. Shani
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Barrer, P.M., Lacey, M.J. & Shani, A. Variation in relative quantities of airborne sex pheromone components from individual femaleEphestia cautella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). J Chem Ecol 13, 639–653 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01880106

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01880106

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