Abstract
The ratios and quantities of the pheromone components, (E,Z)-4,7-tridecadien-1-yl acetate (diene) and (E,Z,Z)-4,7.10-tridecatrien-1-yl acetate (triene), in the glands of individual female potato tuberworm moths (Phthorimaea operculella) originating from the United States (California) and Japan (Nagoya) were analyzed by gas chromatography. Quantities of glandextracted pheromone components of Nagoya females fluctuated in a periodic fashion during the photoperiod. Maximal titers coincided with the onset of scotophase (and calling), then gradually declined to minimal levels soon after lights-on. The average daily pheromone quantities decreased significantly as females aged. Both populations exhibited considerable variation in the ratio of the two components. The proportions of triene in the blend ranged from 27% to 88% (triene −X = 56 ± 13% SD; CV = 23%) for California females and from 16% to 71% (42 ± 13%; CV = 31%) for Nagoya females. Nagoya females also stored significantly higher amounts of pheromone in their glands (8.6 ± 3.9 ng) than did California females (2.7 ± 1.4). The differences between the populations, while substantial, would probably not be sufficient to impart a barrier to panmixis, given the wide range of component ratios favored by the males.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adeeson, C., Tamhankar, A.J., andRahalker, G.W. 1969. Sex pheromone gland in the potato tuberworm moth,Phthorimaea operculella.Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 62:670–671.
Attygale, A.B., Schwarz, J., Vostrowsky, O., andBestmann, H.J. 1986. Individual variation in the sex pheromone components of the false codling moth,Cryptophlebia leucotreta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).Z. Naturforsch. 41c:1077–1081.
Baker, T.C., Meyer, W., andRoelofs, W.L. 1981. Sex pheromone dosage and blend specificity of response by male Oriental fruit moths.Entomol. Exp. Appl. 30:269–279.
Barrer, P.M., Lacey, M.J., andShani, A. 1987. Variation in relative quantities of airborne sex pheromone components from individual femaleEphestia cautella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).J. Chem. Ecol. 13:639–653.
Bjostad, L.B., Linn, C.E., Du, J.-W., andRoelofs, W.L. 1984. Identification of new sex pheromone components inTrichoplusia ni, predicted from biosynthetic precursors.J. Chem. Ecol. 10:1309–1323.
Cardé, R.T. 1986. The role of pheromones in reproductive isolation and speciation of insects, pp. 303–317,in M.D. Huettel (ed.). Evolutionary Genetics of Invertebrate Behavior. Plenum Press, New York.
Cardé, R.T., andBaker, T.C. 1984. Sexual communication with pheromones, pp. 355–377,in W.J. Bell, and R.T. Carde (eds.). Chemical Ecology of Insects. Chapman and Hall, London.
Collins, R.D., andCardé, R.T. 1985. Variation in and heritability of aspects of pheromone production in the pink bollworm moth,Pectinophora gossypiella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 78:229–234.
Delisle, J., andMcNeil, J.N. 1987. Calling behaviour and pheromone titre of the true armywormPseudaletia unipuncta (Haw.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under different temperature and photoperiodic conditions.J. Insect Physiol. 33:315–324.
Dunkelblum, E., Kehat, M., Harel, M., andGordon, D. 1987a. Sexual behaviour and pheromone titre of theSpodoptera littoralis female moth.Entomol. Exp. Appl. 44:241–247.
Dunkelblum, E., Snir, R., Gothilf, S., andHarpaz, I. 1987b. Identification of sex pheromone components from pheromone gland volatiles of the tomato looper,Plusia chalcites (Esp.).J. Chem. Ecol. 13:991–1003.
Flint, H.M., Balsubramanian, M., Campero, J., Strickland, A.F., Ahmad, A., Barral, J., Barosa, S., andKhail, A.F. 1979. Pink bollworm: Response of native males to ratios of (Z,Z)- and (Z,E)-isomers of gossyplure in several cotton growing areas of the world.J. Econ. Entomol. 72:758–762.
Guerin, P.M., Arn, H., Buser, H.R., andCharmillot, P.J. 1986. Sex pheromone ofAdoxophyes orana: Additional components and variability in ratio of (Z)-9- and (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetateJ. Chem. Ecol. 12:763–772.
Haynes, K.F., Gaston, L.K., Pope, M.M., andBaker, T.C. 1984. Potential for evolution of resistance to pheromones: Interindividual and interpopulational variation in chemical communication system of the pink bollworm moth.J. Chem. Ecol. 10:1551–1565.
Koizumi, K., andOhshima, S. 1954. Newly introduced pest: Potato tuber moth.Shokubutsu-Boeki 8:463–469 (in Japanese).
Konno, Y. 1986. Time-lag between sex pheromone content and the calling behavior in the yellow peach moth,Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).Appl. Entomol. Zool. 21:622–624.
Linn, C.E., andRoelofs, W.L. 1983. Effect of varying proportions of the alcohol component on sex pheromone blend discrimination in male Oriental fruit moths.Physiol. Entomol. 8:291–306.
Linn, C.E., andRoelofs, W.L. 1985. Response specificity of male pink bollworm moths to different blends and dosages of sex pheromone.J. Chem. Ecol. 11:1583–1590.
Linn, C.E., Campbell, M.G., andRoelofs, W.L. 1986. Male moth sensitivity to multicomponent pheromones: Critical role of female-released blend in determining the functional role of components and active space of the pheromone.J. Chem. Ecol. 12:659–668.
Löfstedt, C., Lanne, B.S., Löfqvist, J., Appelgren, M., andBergström, G. 1985. Individual variation in the pheromone of the turnip moth,Agrotis segetum.J. Chem. Ecol. 11:1181–1196.
Miller, J.R., andRoelofs, W.L. 1980. Individual variation in sex pheromone component ratios in two populations of the redbanded leafroller moth,Argyrotaenia velutinana.Environ. Entomol. 9:359–363.
Ono, T. 1977. Diurnal rhythms of the behavioral components in the mating of the potato tuber moth,Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).Botyu-Kagaku 42:203–206 (in Japanese with English summary).
Ono, T., andOrita, S. 1986. Field trapping of the potato tuber moth,Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), with the sex pheromone.Appl. Entomol. Zool. 21:632–634.
Persoons, C.J., Voerman, S., Verwiel, P.E.J., Ritter, F.J., Nooyen, W.J., andMinks, A.K. 1976. Sex pheromone of the potato tuberworm moth,Phthorimaea operculella: Isolation, identification, and field evaluation.Entomol. Exp. Appl. 20:289–300.
Pope, M.M., Gaston, L.K., andBaker, T.C. 1982. Composition, quantification, and periodicity of sex pheromone gland volatiles from individualHeliothis virescens females.J. Chem. Ecol. 8:1043–1055.
Raina, A.K., Klun, J.A., andStadelbacher, E.A. 1986. Diel periodicity and effect of age and mating on female sex pheromone titer inHeliothis zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 79:128–131.
Raman, K.V. 1984. Evaluation of synthetic sex pheromone funnel trap for potato tuberworm moths (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).Environ. Entomol. 13:61–64.
Roelofs, W.L., andBjostad, L. 1984. Biosynthesis of lepidopteran pheromones.Bioorg. Chem. 12:279–298.
Roelofs, W.L., andWolf, W.A. 1988. Pheromone biosynthesis in Lepidoptera.J. Chem. Ecol. 14:2019–2031.
Roelofs, W.L., Kochansky, J.P., Cardé, R.T., Kennedy, G.G., Henrick, C.A., Labovitz, J.N., andCorbin, V.L. 1975. Sex pheromone of the potato tuberworm moth,Phthorimaea operculella.Life Sci. 17:699–706.
Schal, C., Charlton, R.E., andCardé, R.T. 1987. Temporal patteras of sex pheromone titers and release rates inHolomelina lamae (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae).J. Chem. Ecol. 13:1115–1129.
Snir, R., Dunkelblum, E., Gothilf, S., andHarpaz, I. 1986. Sexual behaviour and pheromone titre in the tomato looper,Plusia chalcites (Esp.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).J. Insect Physiol. 32:735–739.
Sower, L.L., Shorey, H.H., andGaston, L.K. 1972. Sex pheromones of Lepidoptera. XXVIII. Factors modifying the release rate and extractable quantity of pheromone from females ofTrichoplusia ni (Noctuidae).Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 65:954–957.
Spss. Nie, N.H., Hull, D.H., Jenkins, J.C., Steinbrenner, K., andBent, D.H. 1975. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill, New York.
Toth, M., Bellas, T.E., Rothschild, G.H.L. 1984. Role of pheromone components in evoking behavioral responses from male potato tuberworm moth,Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).J. Chem. Ecol. 10:271–280.
Voerman, S., andRothschild, G.H.L. 1978. Synthesis of the components of the sex pheromone system of the potato tuberworm moth,Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) and field experience with them.J. Chem. Ecol. 4:531–542.
Webster, R.P., andCardé, R.T. 1982. Relationships among pheromone titer, calling and age in the omnivorous leafroller moth (Platynota stultana).J. Insect Physiol. 28:925–933.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ono, T., Charlton, R.E. & Cardé, R.T. Variability in pheromone composition and periodicity of pheromone titer in potato tuberworm moth,Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). J Chem Ecol 16, 531–542 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01021784
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01021784