Improved two‐component blend of the synthetic female sex pheromone of Cryptophlebia leucotreta, and identification of an attractant for C. peltastica

Abstract

AbstractA series of field evaluations using the Pherocon‐1C trap examined various doses and blends of the following synthetic pheromone compounds: (E)‐7‐dodecenyl acetate (E7–12:Ac), (E)‐8‐dodecenyl acetate (E8‐12:Ac), (Z)‐8‐dodecenyl acetate (Z8‐12:Ac), decyl acetate (10:Ac), dodecyl acetate (12:Ac), tetradecyl acetate (14:Ac), hexadecyl acetate (16:Ac), and octadecyl acetate (18:Ac). It was concluded that E7–12:Ac is not a true sex pheromone in Cryptophlebia leucotreta (Meyrick) because it only led to significant male catches at doses greater than 1 mg per lure and did not perform as well as mixtures of E8–12:Ac and Z8–12:Ac. The latter mixtures led to significantly higher catches of C. leucotreta when the ratio of E8–12:Ac to Z8–12:Ac was 9:1 rather than 1:1 as in commercial lures. Increases in dosages of this blend from 1 mg to 50 mg per lure did not lead to increases in male moth catches. An additional 10% 12:Ac had no consistent significant effect on numbers of captured males. 10:Ac, 12:Ac, 14:Ac, 16:Ac, and 18:Ac, individually or in various combinations with 9:1 E8–12:Ac and Z8‐12:Ac corresponding to their average proportions in female pheromone glands, did not lead to significant increases in C. leucotreta catches. Blends of E8–12:Ac and Z8–12:Ac at 1 mg per lure also resulted in catches of males of the litchi moth, Cryptophlebia peltastica (Meyrick), when containing 70% or more Z8–12:Ac. Maximum catches of C. peltastica occurred in traps baited with 100% Z8–12:Ac.