R. Lester

Identification of the female sex pheromones of the moth, Chilo suppressalis.

Abstract The female sex pheromone complex of the striped rice borer, Chilo suppressalis, has been shown to consist of two compounds: (Z)-11-hexadecenal (I) and (Z)-13-octadecenal (II). The pheromones were identified by gas chromatographic analysis, electroantennogram recording, ozonolysis, and comparison with synthetic material.

(E,E)-10,12-Hexadecadienal: A component of the female sex pheromone of the spiny bollworm,Earias insulana (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

(E,E)-10,12-Hexadecadienal has been identified as a component of the sex pheromone of the female spiny bollworm moth,Earias insulana, by gas-chromatographic, electroantennographic and microchemical studies of abdominal tip extracts and entrained volatiles from female moths.

Female sex pheromone components of the cotton bollworm, Heliothis armigera

Abstract Detailed examination of abdominal tip extracts from adult female Heliothis armigera revealed the presence of two components which elicit electroantennographic responses from the male moth. These olfactory stimulants have been fully identified as (Z)-11-hexadecenal (I) and (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol(II), and detected in airborne volatiles from a ‘calling’ female moth. A third olfactory stimulant was detected only in female tip extracts from some moths of Malawi origin, and this was tentatively identified as (Z)-9-hexadecenal (III). No other olfactory stimulants could be found, although hexadecenal (IV) and 1-hexadecan-1-ol (V) were detected by gas chromatography. In field tests in Malawi, (Z)-11-hexadecenal (I) attracted a few male H. armigera moths to traps but was very much less attractive than the virgin female moth. The attractiveness of (I) was not consistently affected by addition of alcohol (II), aldehydes (III) and (IV), or (E)-11-hexadecenal. Significant numbers of male Earias biplaga moths were found to be attracted to (Z)-11-hexadecenal (I).

Components of the sex pheromone of the female spotted stalk borer,Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae): Identification and preliminary field trials

FemaleChilo partellus (Swinhoe) abdominal tip extracts were examined by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) combined with simultaneous electroantennographic (EAG) recording from the male moth. Two olfactory stimulants were detected and identified as (Z)-11-hexadecenal (I) and (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol (II) by their GLC behavior, microchemical reactions, and comparison with synthetic materials. Both compounds were detected in volatiles emitted by the “calling” female moth. Synthetic (Z)-9-tetradecenyl formate, a structural analog of aldehyde (I), also elicited a significant EAG response from the male moth. Field trials carried out in India using synthetic (I) and (II) as bait in water traps showed that compound (I) was highly attractive to maleC. partellus; compound (II) was not attractive, and its addition to (I) significantly reduced trap catches.

The isolation and identification of the female sex pheromones of the red bollworm moth, Diparopsis castanea.

Abstract The female sex pheromones of the red bollworm moth, Diparopsis castanea, were isolated by solvent extraction of the terminal abdominal segments of the female moth followed by purification of the solvent extract by liquid-solid and gas chromatography. The pheromones were identified by gas chromatographic analysis, micro-ozonolysis, infra-red and mass spectroscopy, and comparison with synthetic material. The major pheromone was 9,11-dodecadien-1-yl acetate (80 : 20 trans : cis). Minor components identified were trans 9-dodecen-1-yl acetate, 11-dodecen-1-yl acetate, and dodecan-1-yl acetate.

Identification and synthesis of the female sex pheromone of the citrus flower moth, Prays citri

Abstract The female sex pheromone of the citrus flower moth, Prays citri , has been identified as (Z)-7- tetradecenal . The unusually small amounts of pheromone which could be extracted from the female moth precluded identification by classical methods. Instead, the basic structure of the pheromone was deduced from its gas chromatographic (GC) behaviour using a male moth prepared for electroantennographic (EAG) recording as detector; double bond position and geometry were determined by high resolution GC of the natural pheromone and a range of tetradecenal isomers, and by recording male moth EAG responses to these isomers. Synthetic (Z)-7- tetradecenal was shown to be highly attractive to male Prays citri when tested in citrus groves in Israel. This is the first reported identification of the female sex pheromone of a member of the Yponomeutidae.

Sex pheromones of rice moth,Corcyra cephalonica Stainton : I. Identification of male pheromone.

Behavioral observations of the rice moth (Corcyra cephalonica, Pyralidae, Galleriinae) in the laboratory have shown that a male wing-gland pheromone induces attraction of female moths. This pheromone was identified as a blend of (E,E) and (Z,E)-farnesal. Wing-gland extracts or synthetic compounds were shown to be attractive to females by inducing walking.

SEX PHEROMONES OF RICE MOTH, Corcyra cephalonica STAINTON II. Identification and Role of Female Pheromone

Laboratory investigations of mating behavior in the rice moth,Corcyra cephalonica Stainton (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae; Galleriinae) showed that male moths are attracted at short range to live, virgin female moths and to female abdominal-tip extract. Volatiles collected from virgin female moths contained one component eliciting an electroantennographic (EAG) response from the male moth, and the chemical, spectroscopic, and Chromatographic data on this component were consistent with that of synthetic 6,10,14-tri-methyl-2-pentadecanol. This compound caused an EAG response from the male moth and attracted male moths in the bioassay. The pheromone is thought to play a role in courtship, and the synthetic material was shown to cause the male moths to search for a mate and attempt copulation.

Identification of the female sex pheromone of the purple stem borer moth, Sesamia inferens

The structure of the female sex pheromone of the purple stem borer moth, Sesamia inferens, has been shown to be (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate. Identification was by gas chromatographic analysis combined with electroantennogram recording, reduction, hydrolysis, ozonolysis and comparison of natural and synthetic material.

4-(p-methoxycinnamyloxy)-4′-methoxyazobenzene: A nematic liquid crystal for the gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of the stereochemistry of lepidopterous sex pheromones and related unsaturated fatty alcohols and derivatives

Abstract A study of the gas-liquid chromatographic behaviour of unsaturated fatty alcohols and acetates on a nematic liquid crystal, 4-( p -methoxycinnamyloxy)-4′-methoxyazobenzene, as stationary phase has shown that excellent separations of isomers are possible within the nematic and supercooled temperature limits of this compound. Separations of isomers of some mono- and di-unsaturated insect pheromones are given to illustrate the selectivity of this liquid crystal towards olefinic isomers.