Semiochemicals isolated from the eggs of Ostrinia nubilalis as oviposition deterrent in three other moth species of different families

Abstract

Epideictic pheromones that regulate the egg laying behaviour have recently been isolated and identified in the eggs of two phytophagous moths: Ostrinia nubilalis L. (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) (Thiery & Le Quere, 1991) and Lobesia botrana Den. & Schiff. (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) (Gabel & Thiery, 1992; Thiery et al., 1992). The five major constituents found in O. nubilalis were methyl esters of fatty acids: methyl palmitate, methyl linoleate, methyl palmitoleate, methyl oleate and methyl stearate. These compounds have been also identified in the extracts of L. botrana eggs (Thiery et al.,1992).