Extraction and Field Bioassay of the Sex Pheromone of the Lesser Peachtree Borer 13

Abstract

In 1907, Girault reported that the female of the lesser peachtree borer, Synanthedon pictipes (Grote and Robinson), produces a potent sex pheromone that attracts males of this species and stimulates them to attempt copulation. Subsequently, Cleveland and Murdock (1964) demonstrated that the male borers could be attracted and trapped by exposing virgin females. This insect may therefore be an ideal candidate for pest management programs involving sex pheromones. It is diurnal, on the wing from March to October in the southeastern United States, and can be mass reared (Cleveland et al. 1968). Thus, it is readily available and can be studied for long periods. Additionally, its natural host range is limited to a few species of plants. The present paper reports our efforts to extract the natural pheromone, and to work out a field bioassay that would allow us to proceed with the isolation and identification.