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Sex pheromone of the western hemlock looper,Lambdina fiscellaria lugubrosa (Hulst) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

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Abstract

The sex pheromone of the western hemlock looper (WHL),Lambdina fiscellaria lugubrosa (Hulst), comprises three methylated hydrocarbons: 5,11-dimethylheptadecane (5,11), 2,5-dimethylheptadecane (2,5), and 7-methylheptadecane (7). Compounds extracted from female pheromone glands were identified by coupled gas chromatographic-electroantennographic (GC-EAD) analysis and coupled GC-mass spectroscopy in selected ion monitoring mode. In trapping experiments, (5,11) alone attracted male moths, but addition of either (7) or (2,5) significantly enhanced attraction. (5,11) combined with both (7) and (2,5) was significantly most attractive. (5,11) and (2,5) are also sex pheromone components of the eastern hemlock looper (EHL),Lambdina fiscellaria fiscellaria (Guen.). Although (7) is produced by the EHL, it is a pheromone component only in the WHL. It constitutes the first behaviorally active monomethyl-branched hydrocarbon to be found in a geometrid and is a novel lepidopteran sex pheromone component. The different 2- versus 3-component sex pheromone supports taxonomic division of EHL and WHL.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Pest Management, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, V5A 1S6, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

    Gerhard Gries, Regine Gries & John H. Borden

  2. Phero Tech Inc., V4G 1E9, Delta, British Columbia, Canada

    Shân H. Krannitz

  3. Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, V5A 1S6, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

    Jianxiong Li, G. G. Skip King & Keith N. Slessor

  4. Forestry Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region, A1C 5X8, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada

    Wade W. Bowers & Rick J. West

  5. 102-1000 Park Blvd., V8V 2T4, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

    Edward W. Underhill

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  1. Gerhard Gries
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  2. Regine Gries
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  4. Jianxiong Li
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Gries, G., Gries, R., Krannitz, S.H. et al. Sex pheromone of the western hemlock looper,Lambdina fiscellaria lugubrosa (Hulst) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). J Chem Ecol 19, 1009–1019 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00992534

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00992534

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