Sex pheromone of the larch caterpillar moth, Dendrolimus superans, from northeastern China

Abstract

AbstractThe larch caterpillar moth, Dendrolimus superans Butler (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), is a serious pest in the northeastern part of China. In order to develop an effective method for monitoring D. superans, we began a project to identify the sex pheromone of D. superans and preliminary results were published in a note in 2001. Here we report complete laboratory and field results to support the identification. (Z,E)‐5,7‐Dodecadienal, (Z,E)‐5,7‐dodecadienol, (Z)‐5‐dodecenol, and (Z)‐5‐dodecenal (100:95:75:71) were identified by gas chromatography (GC) and coupled GC‐mass spectrometry in extracts of pheromone glands of female D. superans. However, only (Z,E)‐5,7‐dodecadienal elicited strong responses from conspecific male antennae in coupled GC‐electroantennography studies. Field tests with synthetic compounds indicated that baits containing (Z,E)‐5,7‐dodecadienal as a single component attracted male D. superans moths, whereas addition of one, two, or all three of the possible minor components did not increase the attractiveness of lures. (Z,E)‐5,7‐Dodecadienyl acetate, one of the pheromone components in sympatric Dendrolimus species, was antagonistic, but the analog (Z,E)‐5,7‐dodecadienyl propionate, another pheromone component in sympatric Dendrolimus species, was not. Since 2005, pheromone traps baited with (Z,E)‐5,7‐dodecadienal have been used effectively for monitoring populations of D. superans in various areas of northeastern China.