Sex Pheromone of Tomato Fruit Borer, Neoleucinodes elegantalis.

Five candidate pheromone components were identified by analyzing pheromone gland extracts by gas chromatography (GC), coupled GC-electroantennographic detection (EAD), and coupled GC-mass spectrometry (MS): ( E)-11-hexadecenol( E11–16 : OH), ( Z)-11-hexadecenol ( Z11–16 : OH),( E)-11-hexadecenal, ( E)-11-hexadecenyl acetate, and ( Z)-3,( Z)-6,( Z)-9-tricosatriene ( Z3, Z6, Z9–23 : Hy). In electroantennogram (EAG) recordings, synthetic E11–16 : OH elicited stronger antennal responses at low doses than other candidate pheromone components. Field tests demonstrated that synthetic E11–16 : OH as a trap bait was effective in attracting males, whereas addition of Z11–16 : OH inhibited the males' response. Z3, Z6, Z9–23 : Hy strongly enhanced attractiveness of E11–16 : OH, but was not attractive by itself. A pheromone blend with synergistic behavioral activity of an alcohol ( E11–16 : OH) and hydrocarbon ( Z3, Z6, Z9–23 : Hy) component is most unusual in the Lepidoptera. The synthetic two-component pheromone is approximately 60 times more attractive than the female-produced blend and might facilitate the control of this pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]