Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Unsaturated Cuticular Hydrocarbons Synergize Responses to Sex Attractant Pheromone in the Yellow Peach Moth, Conogethes punctiferalis

  • Published:
Journal of Chemical Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Four trienyl hydrocarbons, (Z3, Z6, Z9)-tricosatriene (Z3, Z6, Z9-23:HC), (Z3, Z6, Z9)-pentacosatriene (Z3, Z6, Z9-25:HC), (Z3, Z6, Z9)-heptacosatriene (Z3, Z6, Z9-27:HC), and (Z3, Z6, Z9)-nonacosatriene (Z3, Z6, Z9-29:HC) were identified in a non-polar fraction of the body wax of male and female yellow peach moth, Conogethes punctiferalis. The relative amounts and ratios of these hydrocarbons differed between sexes. In females, the ratios in body wax and pheromone gland extracts were similar, with lesser amounts found in gland extracts. Synergistic effects of these hydrocarbons when added to the known aldehyde pheromone components were assessed in wind tunnel tests. A blend of (E)-10-hexadecenal (E10-16: Ald) and (Z)-10-hexadecenal (Z10-16: Ald) elicited upwind flight and orientation of males to the pheromone source, but arriving males did not remain close to source for very long. Among the hydrocarbons identified, only Z3, Z6, Z9-23:HC enhanced the activity of the aldehyde blend by increasing the time spent close to the source and the number of source contacts. Z3, Z6, Z9-23:HC and (Z9)-heptacosene (Z9-27:HC) also increased close-range responses to the aldehyde blend. The activity of the aldehyde blend plus these two hydrocarbons was similar to that of crude pheromone extract. Positive dose-response relationships between the aldehyde blend and two hydrocarbon mixtures were found. The lowest doses that elicited synergism were 10−1 female equivalents (of body wax extracts) for the two hydrocarbons, and 10−2 female equivalents for the total unsaturated hydrocarbon mixture.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  • Ando, T., Inomata, S., and Yamamoto, M. 2004. Lepidopteran sex pheromones. Topics Curr. Chem. 239:51–96.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ando, T., Kawai, T., and Matsuoka, K. 2008. Epoxyalkenyl sex pheromones produced by female moths in highly evolved groups: biosynthesis and its endocrine regulation. J. Pestic. Sci. 33:17–20.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cabrera, A., Eiras, A. E., Gries, G., Gries, R., Urdaneta, N., Mirás, B., Badji, C., and Jaffe, K. 2001. Sex pheromone of tomato fruit borer, Neoleucinodes elegantalis. J. Chem. Ecol. 27:2097–2107.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cardé, R. T. and Haynes, K. F. 2004. Structure of the pheromone communication channels in moths, pp. 283–332, in R. T. Cardé and J. G. Millar (eds.), Advances in Insect Chemical Ecology. Cambridge University Press, New York.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, K. K. 1961. Separation of lipid classes by chromatography on florisil. J. Lipid Res. 2:135–141.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Conner, W. E., Eisner, T., van der Meer, R. K., Guerrero, A., Ghiringelli, D., and Meinwald, J. 1980. Sex attractant of an arctiid moth (Utetheisa ornatrix): a pulsed chemical signal. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 7:55–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibb, A. R., Pinese, B., Tenakanai, D., Kawi, A. P., Bunn, B., Ramankutty, P., and Suckling, D. M. 2007. (Z)-11-Hexadecenal and (3Z, 6Z, 9Z)-tricosatriene: sex pheromone components of the red banded mango caterpillar Deanolis sublimbalis. J. Chem. Ecol. 33:579–589.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grant, G. G., Frech, D., Macdonald, L., Slessor, K. N., and King, G. G. S. 1987. Copulation releaser pheromone in body scales of female whitemarked tussock moth, Orgyia leucostigma (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae): identification and behavioral role. J. Chem. Ecol. 13:345–356.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Honda, H., Kaneko, J., Konno, Y., and Matsumoto, Y. 1979. A simple method for mass-rearing of the yellow peach moth, Dichocrosis punctiferalis Guenée (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), on an artificial diet. Appl. Entomol. Zool. 14:464–468.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Howard, R. W. 1993. Cuticular hydrocarbons and chemical communication, pp. 179–226, in D. W. Stanley-Samuelson and D. R. Nelson (eds.), Insect Lipids—Chemistry. Biochemistry & Biology. Univ. Nebraska Press, Lincoln and London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, R. W. and Blomquist, G. J. 2005. Ecological, behavioral, and biochemical aspects of insect hydrocarbons. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 50:371–393.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jung, J. K., Han, K. S., Choi, K. S., and Boo, K. S. 2000. Sex pheromone composition for field-trapping of Dichocrocis punctiferalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) males. Korean J. Appl. Entomol. 39:105–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimura, T. 2002. Chemical Ecology of Sex Pheromones in Conogethes Sibling Species. PhD dissertation. University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kondo, A., Nagata, K., and Mochizuki, F. 2008. Geographical differences in pheromone trap performance in the yellow peach moth, Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée) (Lepidpptera: Pyralidae) occurring in Japanese peach orchards. Jpn. J. Appl. Entomol. Zool. Chugoku Branch. 50:35–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Konno, Y., Arai, K., Sekiguchi, K., and Matsumoto, Y. 1982. (E)-10-Hexadecenal, a sex pheromone component of the yellow peach moth, Dichocrocis punctiferalis Guenée (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Appl. Entomol. Zool. 17:207–217.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liimatainen, J. O. and Jalon, J.-M. 2007. Genetic analysis of cuticular hydrocarbons and their effect on courtship in Drosophila virilis and D. lummei. Behav. Genet. 37:713–725.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, M. Y., Tian, Y., and Li, Y. X. 1994. Identification of minor components of the sex pheromone of yellow peach moth, Dichocrocis punctiferalis Guenée, and field trials. Entomol. Sin. 1:150–155.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marican, C., Duportets, L., Birman, S., and Jallon, J. M. 2004. Female-specific regulation of cuticular hydrocarbon biosynthesis by dopamine in Drosophila melanogaster. Insect Biochem. Molec. 34:823–830.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsuoka, K., Tabunoki, H., Kawai, T., Ishikawa, S., Yamamoto, M., Sato, R., and Ando, T. 2006. Transport of a hydrophobic biosynthetic precursor by lipophorin in the hemolymph of a geometrid female moth which secretes an epoxyalkenyl sex pheromone. Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol. 36:576–583.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mazor, M. and Dunkelblum, E. 1992. Role of sex pheromone components in behavioral reproductive isolation between Autographa gamma (L.) and either Trichoplusia ni (Hübner) or Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esp.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae). J. Chem. Ecol. 18:2373–2384.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Millar, J. G. 2000. Polyene hydrocarbons and epoxides: second major class of lepidopteran sex attractant pheromones. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 45:575–604.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Millar, J. G., Grant, G. G., Mcelfresh, J. S., Strong, W., Rudolph, C., Stein, J. D., and Moreira, J. A. 2005. (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-Pentacosapentaene, a key pheromone component of the fir coneworm moth, Dioryctria abietivorella. J. Chem. Ecol. 31:1229–1234.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ono, T. 1977. The scales as a releaser of the copulation attempt in Lepidoptera. Naturwissenschaften 64:386–387.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Percy-Cunningham, J. E. and Macdonald, J. A. 1987. Biology and ultrastructure of sex pheromone-producing cells, pp. 27–75, in G. D. Prestwich and G. J. Blomquist (eds.), Pheromone Biochemistry. Academic, Orando.

    Google Scholar 

  • R Development Core Team. 2009. R is a language and environment for statistical computing and graphics. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria <http://www.r-project.org>.

  • Rutowski, R. L. 1978. The courtship behaviour of the small sulphur butterfly, Eurema lisa (Lepidoptera: Pieridae). Anim. Behav. 26:892–903.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schal, C., Sevala, V. L., and Cardé, R. T. 1998. Novel and highly specific transport of a volatile sex pheromone by hemolymph lipophorin in moths. Naturwissenschaften 85:339–342.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schlamp, K. K., Gries, R., Khaskin, G., Brown, K., Khaskin, E., Judd, G. J. R., and Gries, G. 2005. Pheromone components from body scales of female Anarsia lineatella induce contacts by conspecific males. J. Chem. Ecol. 31:2897–2911.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sekiguchi, K. 1974. Morphology, biology and control of the yellow peach moth, Dichocrosis punctiferalis Guenée (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Bull. Ibaraki Hort. Expt. Stn. Special Issue (in Japanese with English summery). 89.

  • Shimizu, K. and Tamaki, Y. 1980. Releasers of male copulatory attempt in the smaller tea tortrix moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Appl. Entomol. Zool. 15:140–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strong, W. B., Millar, J. G., Grant, G. G., Moreira, J. A., Chong, J. M., and Rudolph, C. 2008. Optimization of pheromone lure and trap design for monitoring the fir coneworm, Dioryctria abietivorella. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 126:67–77.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Underhill, E. W., Palaniswamy, P., Abrams, S. R., Bailey, B. K., Steck, W. F., and Chisholm, M. D. 1983. Triunsaturated hydrocarbons, sex pheromone components of Caenurgina erechtea. J. Chem. Ecol. 9:1413–1423.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Waterhouse, D. F. 1993. pp. 141, The Major Arthropod Pests and Weeds of Agriculture in Southeast Asia: Distribution, Importance and Origin. ACIAR Monograph No. 21, Camberra.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei, W., Yamamoto, M., Asato, T., Fujii, T., Pu, G. Q., and Ando, T. 2004. Selectivity and neuroendocrine regulation of the precursor uptake by pheromone glands from hemolymph in geometrid female moths, which secrete epoxyalkenyl sex pheromones. Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol 34:1215–1224.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao, W. and Honda, H. 2010. Non-polar body waxes enhance sex pheromone activity in the yellow peach moth, Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Appl. Entomol. Zool. 45:449–456.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao, W., Honda, H., and Matsuyama, S. 2011. Monoenyl hydrocarbons in female body wax of the yellow peach moth as synergists of aldehyde pheromone components. Appl. Entomol. Zool. 46:239–246.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd. for providing E10-16: Ald and Z10-16: Ald. We also express our thanks to Prof. DeMar Taylor for reading the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, 216 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing, 400715, China

    Wei Xiao

  2. Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1, Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan

    Shigeru Matsuyama & Hiroshi Honda

  3. Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo, 184-8588, Japan

    Tetsu Ando

  4. Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA

    Jocelyn G. Millar

Authors
  1. Wei Xiao
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shigeru Matsuyama
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tetsu Ando
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jocelyn G. Millar
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hiroshi Honda
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wei Xiao.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Xiao, W., Matsuyama, S., Ando, T. et al. Unsaturated Cuticular Hydrocarbons Synergize Responses to Sex Attractant Pheromone in the Yellow Peach Moth, Conogethes punctiferalis . J Chem Ecol 38, 1143–1150 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-012-0176-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-012-0176-9

Keywords