Splat formulation for the control of Proeulia auraria (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) through the method of sexual confusion in fruits

The Proeulia auraria mating disruption (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) using synthetic copies of the sex pheromone of the female insect, a mixture of two components E-tetradecyl acetate (E11-14: OAc) + E-11-tetradecanol (E11-14: OH), it was evaluated in orchards infested vine, apples and blueberries using the formulation SPLAT (Specialized Pheromone Lure Application and Technology). In terms of g pheromone and number of stations / sources 0.1 has been tested: 7.8 g in 25 sources, 7.8 g in 75 sources, and 29.5 g in 25 sources in vineyards; and 2.6 g in 25 sources (blueberry) and 75 sources (apple). All trials considered a witness without pheromone (control) and recorded weekly catches of adult male P. auraria Delta traps. In all treatments there was no P. auraria. Catches during the first three weeks, after application of SPLAT, compared with the control group (without pheromone), showing significantly higher catches. These results show a high percentage (100%) of disruption, however it must be confirmed in time and should be supplemented with assessments of damage to the foliage and fruit crops. Keywords: Pheromones, catches, Delta traps, mating disruption.

Analysis of the Labial Gland Secretions of the Male Bumblebee Bombus griseocollis (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

The labial gland secretions from males of the bumblebee Bombus (Separatobombus) griseocollis De Geer, a bumblebee exhibiting perching behaviour, were analysed by gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in the electron impact and positive ion chemical ionization mode. The major compound of the complex mixture of alkenols, acetates, hydrocarbons, wax type esters and steroids is tetradecyl acetate, considerable amounts of hexadecyl, geranyllinaloyl, geranylgeranyl, docosyl, tetracosenyl and hexacosenyl acetate were also found. 1,3-Tetradecanediol diacetate, detected as a minor component, has not yet been identified in male bumblebee labial gland secretions. Besides small amounts of primary alcohols (tetradecanol and hexadecanol) the tertiary alcohol geranyllinalool (3,7,11,15-tetramethyl- hexadeca-1,6,10,14-tetraene-3-ol) was also present. The primary alcohols were also present as esters of butanoic, dodecanoic, tetradecanoic, and hexadecanoic acid. Besides the usual mixture of un- and mono-unsaturated straight chain hydrocarbons, the labial gland contains the isoprenoid hydrocarbons β-springene [(6E,10E)-7,11,15-trimethyl-3-methylenehexadeca-1,6,10,14-tetraene] and two isomers of α-springene [(3Z,6E,10E)- and (3E,6E,10E)-3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-hexadeca-1,3,6,10,14-pentaene]. The close relationship in chemical composition in male bumblebees with perching and flight pass behaviour is discussed.

Sex Pheromone Components in the New Zealand Greenheaded Leafroller. Planotortrix excessana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Planotortrix excessana was found to include moths of two distinct pheromone-types which were not mutually attractive. Tetradecyl acetate and (Z)-8-tetradecenyl acetate were identified as pheromone components in one, and two other tetradecenyl acetates, probably (Z)-5-and (Z)-7-tetradecenyl acetate, in the other. By contrast with other pheromones reported from the tribe Archipini,⊿11-tetradecenyl compounds were not found in either pheromone-type.

DETERMINATION OF THE SEX-PHEROMONE COMPONENTS OF CHEIMOPHILA SALICELLA (LEPIDOPTERA: OECOPHORIDAE), A PEST OF BLUEBERRY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

The female-produced sex pheromone Cheimophila salicella (Hbn.) was found to be a mixture of E-11-tetradecenyl acetate, E-11-tetradecen-1-ol, tetradecyl acetate and E-11-tetradecenal, as determined by chemical analyses and field-trapping results. Capillary gas-liquid chromatography of individual female tip washes indicated relative ratios of 100:15:10:2. Field-trapping experiments showed the E-11 acetate to be essential and the E-11 aldehyde to be a powerful synergist for trapping of male moths.

SEX PHEROMONE OF THE MAPLE LEAF ROLLER CENOPIS ACERIVORANA (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE)

Pheromone gland rinses of female maple leaf roller moths were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography and found to contain (Z)-11-tetradecenal, (E)-11-tetradecenal, tetradecanal, (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate, (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate, and tetradecyl acetate in the average ratio of 33:20:8:21:17:2 for single female analysis and 31:16:6:16:27:3 for a pooled extract of 55 females. Identity of the tetradecenals, the tetradecenyl and tetradecyl acetates was confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Electroantennogram analysis indicated that (Z)-11-tetradecenal followed by (E)-11-tetradecenal were the most stimulating compounds tested. In field tests, only three components (Z)-11-tetradecenal, (E)-11-tetradecenal and (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate, in the microgram ratio of 65:35:10, were necessary for optimum attraction. Another tortricid moth, Archips griseus, was attracted to some of the aldehyde mixtures.

Modification of the attractiveness of the primary pheromone component of the Egyptian cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), by secondary pheromone components and related chemicals

Known components of the female sex pheromone of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.), tetradecyl acetate (I), (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (IIA), (Z,E)-9, 11-tetradecadienyl acetate (III) and (Z,E)-9, 12-tetradecadienyl acetate (IV), and related compounds dispensed from polyethylene vials were used to bait water traps and funnel traps in lucerne fields in Crete. In comparison with the catches of males in traps baited with the primary component (III) alone, catches were increased by the addition of 1–100% of I in relation to the amounts of III, decreased by the addition of 5% or more of IIA and decreased by the addition of more than 5% of IV. The diene III was more attractive than any of the other three geometric isomers, although combining the Z,Z isomer (V) or the E,E isomer (VI) with III increased catches while the addition of the E,Z isomer (VII) decreased catches. The alcohols VIII and IX corresponding to the acetates III and IIA were not attractive but caused a marked reduction in trap catch when combined with III. The homologue of III (Z,E)-11-methyl–9, 11-tetradecadienyl acetate (X), was unattractive to males but increased trap catches when combined with III. 9-Tetradecynyl acetate (XI) exhibited neither attractant nor inhibitory activity, and similar results were obtained with ethyl cyclohexane carboxylate (XII) and 2-nonynal dimethyl acetal (XIII), compounds which have similar far-infrared spectra to that of diene III. The distributions of males landing on sticky board traps 70 cm in diameter baited with III or mixtures of III with I, IIA or IV showed that a greater percentage of the moths landed at the periphery of the traps baited with certain combinations of III with I and IV than on traps baited with III alone. Collection and analysis of the volatiles emitted by virgin females of different origins indicated that those from Crete produced I and III only, those from Israel produced I, III and IV, while those from Egypt produced I, III, IV and IIA and/or (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (IIB). The results are discussed in relation to previous work on S. littoralis and current theories on insect communication, and also in terms of their relevance to the practical field usage of pheromones in control of this pest.