Identification of the Sex Pheromone of Isoceras sibirica Alpheraky (Lepidoptera, Cossidae)

We discovered that extracts of the female sex pheromone gland of the carpenterworm moth Isoceras sibirica Alpheraky, a pest of Asparagus offi cinalis Linn., contained (Z)-7- tetra decen-1-ol (Z7 - 14:OH), (Z)-9-tetradecen-1-ol (Z9 - 14:OH), (Z)-7-tetradecenyl acetate (Z7 - 14:Ac), (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9 - 14:Ac), and (Z)-9-hexadecadecenyl acetate (Z9 - 16:Ac). The average levels of the chemicals in a single sex pheromone gland of a calling moth were (0.71 ± 0.24) ng, (1.42 ± 0.44) ng, (4.36 ± 0.32) ng, (8.71 ± 0.26) ng, and (0.82 ± 0.38) ng, respectively. The electroantennography (EAG) analysis of these chemicals and their analogues demonstrated that Z9 - 14:Ac triggered signifi cantly the male EAG response. Traps with rubber septa lure impregnated with Z9 - 14:Ac (500 μg/septum), Z7 - 14:Ac (250 μg/septum), and Z9 - 16:Ac (50 μg/septum) were more effective in catching male moths than traps with other baits or virgin females. Addition of Z7 - 14:OH and Z9 - 14:OH to rubber septa did not enhance the effi ciency of the trap.

Identification and Field Evaluation of the Female Sex Pheromone of the Sand Salix Carpenterworm, Holcocerus arenicola Staudinger (Lepidoptera: Cossidae)

Extracts of female sex pheromone glands of the sand Salix carpenterworm moth, Holcocerus arenicola, a serious pest of desert thicket, were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Based on comparison of retention times and mass spectra of synthetic standards, four compounds were identifi ed as cis-7-tetradecen-1-ol (Z7 - 14:OH), cis-5-tetradecen-1-yl acetate (Z5 - 14:OAc), cis-7-tetradecen- 1-yl acetate (Z7 - 14:OAc), and cis-9-hexadecen-1-yl acetate (Z9 - 16:OAc) with the ratio of 24:39:100:43. Electroantennographic (EAG) analyses of these standard chemicals and their analogues showed that Z7 - 14:OAc elicited the largest male EAG response, followed by Z5 - 14:OAc and Z9 - 16:OAc. In fi eld trials, traps baited with either Z7 - 14:OAc or Z5 - 14:OAc captured males while Z7 - 14:OH-, Z9 - 16:OAc- or solvent-baited traps caught no males. Z7 - 14:OAc as a single component was signifi cantly more attractive than Z5 - 14:OAc alone. The combination of Z7 - 14:OAc and Z5 - 14:OAc showed an evidently synergistic effect and attracted much more males than the individual compounds in the field. Addition of Z7 - 14:OH to the blend of Z7 - 14:OAc and Z5 - 14:OAc enhanced slightly the trap catches. We conclude that the major components of the sex pheromone of H. arenicola are Z7 - 14:OAc and Z5 - 14:OAc. Currently, a triangle trap baited with the synthetic compounds Z7 - 14:OAc, Z5 - 14:OAc, and Z7 - 14:OH in a 1:0.4:0.25 ratio at 825 μg/trap dosage can be effectively used to monitor the H. arenicola population level and catch the males within the desert regions in China.

The Sex Pheromone of the Sand Sagebrush Carpenterworm, Holcocerus artemisiae (Lepidoptera, Cossidae)

(Z)-5-dodecen-1-ol (Z5 - 12:OH), (Z)-5-dodecenyl acetate (Z5 - 12:Ac), and (Z)-5-tetradecenyl acetate (Z5 - 14:Ac) were found in the extracts of the female sex pheromone gland of the carpenterworm moth Holcocerus artemisiae Chou et Hua, a pest of Artemisia filifolia. The average amounts of Z5 - 12:OH, Z5 - 12:Ac, and Z5 - 14:Ac in a single sex pheromone gland of a calling moth were (7.14 ± 0.73) ng, (54.20 ± 0.34) ng, and (38.70 ± 0.46) ng, respectively. Electroantennography (EAG) of these compounds and their analogues demonstrated that Z5 - 12:Ac excitated the largest male EAG response, followed by Z5 - 14:Ac. Traps baited with rubber septa impregnated with Z5 - 12:Ac (500 μg/septum) and Z5 - 14:Ac (300 μg/septum) were more effective than traps with other baits or virgin females. Addition of Z5 - 12:OH to rubber septa did not enhance the trap catches, but (E,Z)-3,5-dodecadienyl acetate (E3,Z5 - 12:Ac) enhanced the trap catch.