Sex pheromone of the butterbur borer, Ostrinia zaguliaevi

Abstract

AbstractThe sex pheromone blend of the butterbur borer, Ostrinia zaguliaevi (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) was analyzed by means of gas chromatography‐electroantennographic detection (GC‐EAD), GC‐mass spectrometry and a series of wind‐tunnel bioassays. Four EAD‐active compounds were detected in the female sex pheromone gland extract, and these were identified as tetradecyl acetate (14:OAc), (Z)‐9‐tetradecenyl acetate (Z9‐14:OAc), (E)‐11‐tetradecenyl acetate (E11‐14:OAc) and (Z)‐11‐tetradecenyl acetate (Z11‐14:OAc). The average amounts ± s.d. of the four compounds in a single sex pheromone gland were 7.9±3.7 ng, 10.1±3.2 ng, 1.1±0.5 ng and 11.6±5.1 ng, respectively. In a wind‐tunnel bioassay, the ternary blend of Z9‐, E11‐ and Z11‐14:OAc at a ratio found in the sex pheromone gland (45:5:50) elicited the same behavioral responses from the males as did virgin females and pheromone gland extract. Removal of any single compound from the ternary blend significantly diminished the pheromonal activity, whereas addition of 14:OAc to the ternary blend had no effect on the males' behavioral responses. Therefore, it was concluded that the sex pheromone blend of O. zaguliaevi is composed of Z9‐14:OAc, E11‐14:OAc and Z11‐14:OAc at a ratio of 45:5:50.