Species specificity of moth sex pheromones is in many cases achieved by means of specific blends rather than by specific components. Two pheromone strains of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, use (E)- and (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate in different ratios as their pheromone, but show the same ratio of the pheromone precursors (70:30 E/Z-11-tetradecenoic acid). The hypothesis that the ratio

Pheromone compounds so far identified from most geometrid moths consist of all-Z diene, triene, or tetraene hydrocarbons with chain lengths of C17 to C21, and their monoepoxide derivatives biosynthesized from linoleic and linolenic acids. The present study reports the occurrence of olefinic acetates as sex pheromones in three species of Geometridae. (Z,Z)-9,11- tetradecadienyl acetate and (Z,Z)-7,

A difference in female pheromone production and male behavioral response has previously been found in two populations of the turnip moth, Agrotis segetum, originating from Sweden and Zimbabwe, respectively. In this study, we investigated the pheromone response of antennal lobe interneurons of males of the two populations by intracellular recordings, stimulating with single pheromone components and

The major difference in pheromone production between the so-called E and Z strains of the European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis is controlled by two alleles at a single autosomal locus. E-strain females produce an (E)-11- tetradecenyl acetate pheromone with 1-3% of the Z isomer, whereas Z-strain females produce the opposite blend. In laboratory-reared insects we found that F1 females produced, on

Pheromone production in the female turnip moth, Agrotis segetum, is under the control of a brain factor. This factor was demonstrated to be a proteinaceous substance termed pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide‐like substance (PBAN‐like substance). The sex pheromone of Swedish A. segetum includes (Z)‐5‐decenyl acetate, (Z)‐7‐dodecenyl acetate, and (Z)‐9‐tetradecenyl acetate as major compo

The substrate specificity of the acetyltransferase and the reductase enzyme systems used by Ostrinia furnacalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in pheromone biosynthesis was studied in vivo by topical application of precursors to pheromone glands. Each of the tetradecenols, varying in double bond position (from 7 to 13) and geometry of the double bond, was converted to the corresponding acetate by the ac

Abstract. In addition to the pheromone components (Z)‐5‐decenyl, (Z)‐7‐dodecenyl and (Z)‐9‐tetradecenyl acetate (Z5‐10:OAc, Z7‐12:OAc and Z9‐14:OAc), it has previously been shown that the sex pheromone gland of the turnip moth, Agrotis segetum (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae Schiff) contains 10:OAc, 12:OAc, Z5‐12:OAc, Z9‐12:OAc, 11–12:OAc, Z5‐14:OAc, Z7‐14:OAc and Z11‐16:OAc. To find out whether any of th

Extracts from different body parts of adult female Eriocrania cicatricella (Zett.) were tested for electrophysiological activity on conspecific male antennae. Extracts from the Vth abdominal segment, containing a pair of exocrine glands, elicited the largest electroantennographic response when compared to extracts of other body parts. Female extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography with simult

(Z,Z,Z)‐1, 3, 6, 9‐Heneicosatetraene was identified as a sex pheromone component of Epirrita autumnata (Borkhausen), (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Gas chromatography coupled with electroantennographic detection revealed one active peak‐from female pheromone gland extracts. The chemical identification of the compound was based on gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry, chemical micro‐reactions and unam

The physiological route for the action of the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) was determined in Mamestra brassicae (L.) (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae). Removal of the ventral nerve cord including the terminal abdominal ganglia did not affect PBAN stimulation of pheromone production and the biogenic amine octopamine did not stimulate pheromone production in isolated abdomens. PBAN-li

The noctuid sibling taxa Diachrysia chrysitis s. str. and D. tutti, of yet uncertain taxonomic status, have previously been shown to possess differences in morphology and to be attracted to different mixtures of the two presumed pheromone components (Z)-5-decenyl acetate and (Z)-7-decenyl acetate. Typical D. tutti males (clearly broken forewing marking) are known to respond to a 2: 100 mixture of

In, pheromone extracts of calling female Chiasma clathrata, L. (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), a defoliator pest of alfalfa, (Z,Z,Z)-3,6,9–heptadecatriene and (Z,Z)-6,9–cis-3,4–epoxyhepta-decadiene was identified. Chiral gas chromatography using a modified cyclodextrin and synthetic reference samples proved the natural epoxide to show (3 R.4 S)-configuration. In field trapping tests, only the pure (3/

Extracts of different body parts of adult Trichoptera were tested for electrophysiological activity. Extracts of the IVth and Vth abdominal sternites of female Hydropsyche angustipennis, Rhyacophila nubila, and R. fasciata, containing a paired exocrine gland, elicited significant electroan-tennographic responses when tested on conspecific male antennae. The paired gland occurs also in males of all

Argues that there is no reason to dismiss species recognition as a possible cause of evolutionary change in moth sex pheromones. Selection for species recognition cannot explain all of the diversity in sex pheromones and the data supporting this contention are weak, but the alternative causes suggested, invoking mate choice between conspecifics as the mechanism of sexual selection, has no empirica

Enantiomer separation of (6 Z,9 Z)-cis-3,4-epoxynonadecadiene and (3 Z,9 Z)-cis-6,7-epoxynonadecadiene could be achieved using chiral high-resolution gas chromatography and a cyclodextrin-bond column. (3 Z,9 Z)-(6 R,7 S)-Epoxynonadecadiene was identified from ovipositor extracts of Colotois pen-Naria, while in Erannis defoliaria the 6 S,7 R-enantiomer was found. In field trapping tests pure synthe

The specific function of the glomerular structures present in the antennal lobes or olfactory bulbs of organisms ranging from insects to humans has been obscure because of limitations in neuronal marking methods. By tracing individual neurons in the moth Agrotis segetum, it was determined that physiologically distinct types of pheromone receptor neurons project axons to different regions of the ma

Selected combinations of (Z)-5-decenyl, (Z)-7-dodecenyl, and (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetates, the pheromone components of the turnip moth AgrotisSegetum were tested for field attractancy at six, two, and three sites in Europe, Asia, and Africa, respectively. At all of the sites in Eurasia and in northern Africa the ternary mixture of the acetates captured most males, while at the sites south of the Sa

Three sex pheromone components of the carob moth were isolated and identified from the extract of female pheromone glands, using a variety of techniques including coupled gas chromatographic-electroantennographic recordings, coupled gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis, microozonolysis, electroantennographic assays of monounsaturated standards, wind-tunnel bioassays, and field trials. T

(Z, Z)-3, 9-cis-6, 7-Epoxyheptadecadiene, and (Z, Z)-6, 9-cis-3, 4-epoxyheptadecadiene were identified by gas chromatography/flame ionization detection-electroantennographic detection (GC/FID-EAD) and coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) from abdominal tip extracts of Tephrina arenacearia (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), an alfalfa pest. In gas chromatography/flame ionization—single sen