W. G. Hart

(Z)‐3‐nonenol, (Z,Z)‐3,6‐nonadienol and (S,S)‐(‐)‐epianastrephin: male produced pheromones of the Mexican fruit fly

(Z)‐3‐nonenol, (Z,Z)‐3,6‐nonadienol and (S,S)‐(‐)epianastrephin proved active as male‐produced pheromones which elicited behavioral responses from virgin female Mexican fruit flies (Anastrepha ludens) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in laboratory bioassays. All three chemicals elicited attraction and/or locomotor arrest when tested individually. When tested together, (Z)‐3‐nonenol inhibited the behavioral effect of (Z,Z)‐3,6‐nonadienol but either of the alcohols synergized the effect of (S,S)‐(‐)‐epianastrephin. Quantities of the pheromones per male abdomen were: (Z)‐3‐nonenol −100 ng; (Z,Z)‐3,6‐nonadienol −40 ng; and total epianastrephin (R,R and S,S enantiomers) −700 ng. Relative to the quantities in abdominal extract, males released these chemicals during sexual display in a blend containing a higher proportion of the alcohols.

Electroantennagrams of Mexican fruit flies to chemicals produced by males

Male‐produced chemicals were tested on antennae of the Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens) (Diptera: Tephritidae) using the electroantennagram technique. Male and female antennae responded equivalently to six chemicals and combinations of the six chemicals. (S,S)‐(–)‐epianastrephin elicited responses two‐three times greater than any of the other chemicals, (S,S)‐(–)‐anastrephin gave greater responses than (R,R)‐(+)‐anastrephin, and Z,Z‐3,6‐nonadienol gave greater responses than Z‐3‐nonenol. The combination of Z,Z‐3,6‐nonadienol and Z‐3‐nonenol elicited a response which was slightly less than the response to Z,Z‐3,6‐nonadienol alone. The EAG data were highly correlated with behavioral data from earlier experiments.