The alkenyl acetates E9-12:Ac, ∆ll-12:Ac and Zll-14:Ac were identified as minor components of the C. murinana female pheromone blend by chemical analyses of volatile pheromone gland constituents and potential pheromone precursors, electrophysiological recordings from single receptor cells, and field trapping tests. Gland washes from virgin females contained these compounds at 3%, 10% and 5%. respe

A wind-borne plume of sex pheromone from a female moth or a synthetic source has a fine, filamentous structure that creates steep and rapid fluctuations in concentration from a male moth flying up the plume's axis. The firing rates from single antennal neurons on Agrotis segetum antennae decreased to nearly zero within seconds after the antennae were placed in a pheromone plume 70 cm downwind of a

The sex pheromones produced by virgin females of three species of small ermine moths occurring sympatrically on the European spindle tree were analysed by gas chromatography and the synthetic compounds tested against male moths in the laboratory and field. Pheromone gland extracts of Yponomeuta cagnagellus were shown to contain tetradecyl acetate, (E)‐11‐ and (Z)‐11‐tetradecenyl acetate, tetradeca

Sex pheromone biosynthesis in the codling moth Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera; Tortricidae) was studied by topical application of deuterated fatty acids in DMSO to pheromone glands. The incorporation of deuterium label into fatty acids and alcohols in the pheromone gland was monitored by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection and mass spectrometry in the selected ion monitoring mode. Dod

A model for mate competition in moths sexually signalling with pheromones is presented. The model has four variables. N is the number of individuals of each sex per area unit. r is the length of the female odour plume as detected by a responding male. ε is a parameter increasing with male ability to discriminate between concentrations. r-ε becomes the competitive part of the female pheromone plume

The repeatability of the composition of pheromone emitted by individual female moths (Yponomeuta) was determined by gas Chromatographic analysis. An improved technique for repeated collections of airborne volatiles from the same moth was developed. The procedure did not harm the females and allowed precise quantification of 0.05 ng of pheromone components in 30-min collections. Individual females

The nine sympatric forms of small ermine moths of the genus Yponomeuta (Lepidoptere; Yponomeutidae) in the west palaearctic region show various degrees of differentiation1,2, including among other characteristics, differences in their sexual pheromones3. As is the case for many other moths4, the ermine moths so far analysed use delta 11-unsaturated acetates ((Z)-11-tetradecenyl, (E)-11-tetradeceny

Female pheromone gland extracts from cultures of Agrotis segetum originating from Sweden, France, Hungary and England were analysed for pheromone components and precursors (fatty acids). The pheromone blends were similar in moths from the Swedish, English and Hungarian populations, whereas the French diverged with a much higher amount of (Z)-7-decenyl acetate relative to the homologous pheromone c

(16-D3)palmitic acid was applied topically to pheromone glands of the turnip moth. After incubation omega labeled analogues of fatty acid methyl esters and acetates were identified by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection and selected ion monitoring. The pheromone components (Z)-5-decenyl, (Z)-7-dodecenyl- and (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate were all biosynthesized from palmitic acid along

(Z)‐11‐hexadecenyl acetate (Z‐11–16:Ac), (Z)‐11‐hexadecenal (Z‐11–16:Ald), (Z)‐11‐hexadecenol (Z‐11–16:OH) and hexadecanyl acetate (16:Ac) were found in pheromone gland extracts of female Mamestra suasa (Den. et Schiff.) in the relative amounts 100/2/10/5. All four compounds were also present in collections of airborne volatiles from calling females in a 100/7/5/5 ratio. No traces of 14 carbon ald

Reproductive isolation among four sympatric small ermine moths (Yponomeuta) is analyzed in terms of niches in the sexual communication channel. Potential pheromone components were identified from pheromone gland secretions of Y. evonymellus, Y. cagnagellus, Y. padelius, and Y. vigintipunctatus by gas chromatography with flame ionization and electroantennographic detection and tested for behavioral

Chain-elongated analogues of (Z)-dec-5-enyl acetate, a pheromone component of the turnip moth, Agrotis segetum, have been studied. The conformational energies required for the analogues to mimic spatial relationships in the parent molecule, assumed to be crucial for the receptor interaction, were calculated by molecular mechanics (MM2). The calculated energies show a striking correlation with meas

Female pheromone gland extracts of two primitive New Zealand tortricid species that use (Z)-8-tetradecenyl acetate as a pheromone component were analyzed for pheromone precursors. Both Planotortrix excessana and Ctenopseustis obliquana contained (Z)-8-tetradecenoate as well as large amounts of (Z)-10-hexadecenoate. We propose that (Z)-8-tetradecenyl acetate is synthesized from hexadecanoate (palmi