Sex Pheromones of Two Leafminer Species, Antispila oinophylla and Holocacista rivillei (Lepidoptera: Heliozelidae) Infesting Grapevine in Italy

Hong-Lei Wang,Erik J Van Nieukerken,Gianfranco Anfora,Christer Löfstedt,Mario Baldessari

doi:10.1007/s10886-018-1036-z

Abstract

Two heliozelid species, Antispila oinophylla van Nieukerken & Wagner and Holocacista rivillei (Stainton) severely infest Italian grapevines. The volatile pheromones from calling females were collected by solid phase micro extraction (SPME) and analyzed by gas chromatography with electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD). Two compounds from A. oinophylla females eliciting electrophysiological activity from the conspecific male antenna were identified as (Z)-5-tetradecenal and (Z)-7-tetradecenal by coupled gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis. SPME collections from H. rivillei produced no GC-EAD active compounds but analysis of fatty acyl moieties in the pheromone gland, demonstrated the presence of the putative pheromone biosynthetic precursors (Z)-5-dodecenoic acid and (Z)-7-tetradecenoic acid. Field trapping experiments in Italy confirmed that (Z)-5-tetradecenal and (Z)-7-tetradecenal are essential for the attraction of male A. oinophylla in a blend ratio of 15:100 respectively, whereas (Z)-5-dodecenal and (Z)-7-tetradecenal attract male H. rivillei in a blend ratio of 100:6.

Highlights

IntroductionThey may cause severe damage to their hosts and seriously affect grape production (Duso et al 2011, 2013; van Nieukerken and Geertsema 2015)
Several leaf mining insects from the moth family Heliozelidae infest host plants belonging to the grape family Vitaceae
In gas chromatography with electroantennographic detection (GC-electroantennographic detector (EAD)) analyses of solid phase micro extraction (SPME) collections from female H. rivillei, no responses were detected from conspecific male antennae

Summary

Introduction

They may cause severe damage to their hosts and seriously affect grape production (Duso et al 2011, 2013; van Nieukerken and Geertsema 2015). In Italy, larvae of Antispila oinophylla van Nieukerken & Wagner and Holocacista rivillei (Stainton) may cause serious damage in vineyards (van Nieukerken et al 2012). They are considered secondary pests, in recent years severe outbreaks have taken place in some Italian grape growing areas. Significant infestations are commonly encountered in vineyards in newly colonized areas such as South Tyrol

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