Male Grapholita molesta (Busck) adults responding to various component combinations of synthetic female sex pheromone.

Grapholita molesta (Busck) is a cosmopolitan fruit pest. The sex pheromones released by females have four components, namely (Z)‐8‐dodecenyl acetate (Z8–12:Ac), E8–12:Ac, (Z)‐8‐dodecen‐1‐ol (Z8–12:OH), and dodecanol (12:OH). This multichemical attractive system has been reported to induce various male behavioral responses, from arousal to directional flight, and enhance trapping. However, the specific male behaviors induced by individual component or component blend is unclear. This study investigated the effects of different combinations of these four components using electroantennogram, wind tunnel assays, and field tests on aspects of male behavioral performance. Our results showed that the (Z8–12:Ac + E8–12:Ac)‐ containing pheromones were mainly responsible for long‐distance detection and close‐distance location in males, including antennal detection of the stimulus, flight initiation, directional flight, and trapping. The addition of E8–12:Ac to Z8–12:Ac plays an important role in pheromone searching behavior of males in close range. The ternary component, Z8–12:Ac + E8–12:Ac + Z8–12:OH was crucial for capturing male moths, and 12:OH significantly increased the male catch. The addition of Z8–12:OH and 12:OH to Z8–12:Ac + E8–12:Ac plays an important role in completing the whole response sequence in field attraction. This study revealed that Z8–12:Ac + E8–12:Ac acts as a attractant to males, whereas Z8–12:OH, and 12:OH are the synergists that enhance male attraction in the sex pheromone blend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]