Abstract
ABSTRACT. Response of male moths to sex pheromones differs markedly depending on blend composition. Natural selection can therefore be expected to favour males responding maximally to the blend produced by most females in the population. Thus it is relevant to quantify male response by the blend to which the males of a population respond maximally.To do this, wind tunnel experiments were carried out where males were observed while responding to blends of synthetic compounds emitted from rubber septa. By stepwise improvement it was shown that the blend to which Yponomeuta cagnagellus responds maximally comprises (Z)11‐tetradecenyl acetate (Z11‐14Ac), (E)11‐tetradecenyl acetate (E11‐14Ac), (Z)11‐tetradecenol (Z11‐140H), and tetradecyl acetate (14Ac) in the ratio 100(=50μg):1.5:20:45.The innovate aspects of the method used to obtain this result, are the use of a direct search approach as an integral part of the experimental procedure and the use of a summary variable to characterize male response. These aspects are discussed using the data on the response of Y. cagnagellus males.
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