Abstract
The sex pheromone glands ofPlusia chalcites release, dodecyl acetate, (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate, (Z)-9-dodecenyl acetate, 11-dodecenyl acetate, (Z)-8-tridecenyl acetate, and (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate. A combination of capillary GC, GC-MS, and dimethyl disulfide derivatization enabled a rigorous identification of all these compounds, some of which were previously found in gland extracts. Bioassays in a flight tunnel showed that a ternary blend of (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate, (Z)-9-dodecenyl acetate, and (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate elicited directed flights from 85 to 100% of the males tested and elicited copulation attempts, at the end of the flights, from 44 to 74% of the males tested. This blend was equal in activity to the natural gland extract. Addition of the other acetates had only a slight influence on the activity of this mixture. Substitution of either (Z)-9-dodecenyl acetate or (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate in this blend by 11-dodecenyl acetate gave two ternary mixtures which also elicited high levels of courtship activity, almost as high as that of the original blend. Addition of (Z)-7-dodecenyl alcohol inhibited almost totally the flight activity of males.
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Lepidoptera: Noctuidae.
Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization (ARO) No. 1701-E, 1986 series.
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Dunkelblum, E., Snir, R., Gothilf, S. et al. Identification of sex pheromone components from pheromone gland volatiles of the tomato looper,Plusia chalcites (Esp.). J Chem Ecol 13, 991–1003 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01020533
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01020533