Abstract
The sex pheromone of Phyllophaga (Phytalus) georgiana was characterized as valine methyl ester, tentatively the l-enantiomer. This is the first sex pheromone identified from the Phyllophaga subgenus Phytalus. The pheromone was extracted from female glands, the active component isolated by coupled gas chromatography–electroantennogram detection analysis, characterized by mass spectrometry, and shown to be active in field tests. The seasonal flight pattern was determined for P. georgiana as well as for three other species, P. anxia (both northern and southern genitalic forms), P. gracilis, and P. postrema. The latter three species were captured in traps baited with l-isoleucine methyl ester.
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Thanks to Dong Ho Cha of Cornell University for help with the figures.
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Sridhar Polavarapu, deceased May 7, 2004. We dedicate this publication to our friend and colleague.
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Robbins, P.S., Nojima, S., Polavarapu, S. et al. Sex Pheromone of the Scarab Beetle Phyllophaga (Phytalus) georgiana (Horn). J Chem Ecol 35, 336–341 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-009-9593-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-009-9593-9