Sex pheromone of the pink grass worm Tmetolophota atristriga (Walker)

The New Zealand native moth Tmetolophota atristriga (Walker) (Lepidoptera Noctuidae) is a background pest defoliating pasture This project identified the pheromone components of the female pink grass worm that could be used to trap male moths in a control or monitoring programme Extraction of the sex pheromone gland of virgin female moths and GCMS analysis has identified several compounds in the sex pheromone gland two monounsaturated compounds cis11hexadecenal (Z1116Ald) and cis11hexadecyl acetate (Z1116Ac) and three saturated compounds hexadecan1ol (16OH) hexadecyl acetate (16Ac) and octadecan1ol (18OH) and triene hydrocarbon (ZZZ)369tricosatriene (Z3Z6Z923Hy) A field trapping experiment was conducted using binary blends of the two main compounds Z1116Ald and Z1116Ac at five different ratios (ie 1000 7525 5050 2575 and 0100) The highest catch was obtained at ratio 2575 of Z1116AldZ1116Ac; males were also caught at the 5050 ratio No catches were recorded with any other ratio tested A dose response experiment was conducted testing five loadings of the optimum binary (2575 ratio) mixture (01 1 10 100 and 1000 mg loading) and males were caught only at 01 and 1 mg loadings In a field trapping experiment conducted late in the season (2008) using the three additional minor compounds only the addition of Z3Z6Z923Hy to the binary mixture significantly enhanced male attraction

SEX PHEROMONE BLEND OF THE PANDORA MOTH (LEPIDOPTERA: SATURNIIDAE), AN OUTBREAK PEST IN PINE FORESTS (PINACEAE)

The female-produced sex pheromone blend of the pandora moth, Coloradia pandora pandora Blake, a pest responsible for periodic defoliation of pine forests in the western United States, has been identified. The pheromone consisted of a mixture of E10,Z12-hexadecadienal, E10,Z12-hexadecadienyl acetate, and E10,E12-hexadecadienyl acetate. All three components were essential for optimal attraction. E10,Z12-Hexadecadienol, tentatively identified in trace amounts in pheromone gland extracts, elicited strong responses from male antennae in coupled gas chromatography – electroantennogram analyses but had no apparent effect as a pheromone component at physiologically relevant levels. Hexadecanal, octadecanal, and hexadecyl acetate also were identified in extracts of female pheromone glands but elicited no responses from male antennae, nor did they appear to be components of the attractant blend. In field trials, each trap baited with the optimized three-component blend of E10,Z12-hexadecadienal, E10,Z12-hexadecadienyl acetate, and E10,E12-hexadecadienyl acetate captured an average of more than 40 male moths per night.

Similarities between the Dufour Gland Secretions of the Ants Camponotus ligniperda (Latr.) and Camponotus herculeanus (L.) (Hym.)

The two ant species Camponotus ligniperda ,(Latr.) and Camponotus herculeanus (L.) show very small differences in morphology and general biology. The present work demonstrates that the two species are very similar also with respect to the composition of the volatile secretions emanating from Dufour's gland in worker ants. As in other formicine ant species analysed by us earlier, the main components are straight chain, satured hydrocarbons with II, I3, I5 and I7 carbons atoms. Tridecane is the dominating component. Unsatured, straight chain hydrocarbons and branched chain, saturated hydrocarbons are also present. We have also identified aliphatic alcohols, ketones and acetates as components of the secretion from Dufour's gland, as well as a11-trans-farnesyl acetate and one isomer of farnesene in trace amounts. Of these compounds hexadecyl acetate is the dominating one. The analyses have been carried out by combined gas chromatography and mass spectrometry and by capillary gas chromatography. In both techniques we have been using a precolumn for isolating the volatile compounds.