title: Evaluation of the synthetic major component of the sex pheromone of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).
abstract: In wind-tunnel bioassays, dispensers loaded with 1 microg of the synthetic major component (3E,8Z, 11Z)-3,8,11-tetradecatrienyl acetate (TDTA) of the sex pheromone emitted by Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) females were found to be highly attractive to conspecific males. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of five trap designs. The best trap, baited with 100 microg of the synthetic sex pheromone caught on average 1,200 males per trap per night, while those baited with virgin females caught only 201 males. The male response to this pheromone is restricted to the same early-morning time window during which females exhibit calling behavior. The high biological activity of the synthetic pheromone suggests that it could be useful for pest monitoring and in mating disruption.
authors.affiliation: Colégio Técnico Agrícola Ildefonso Bastos Borges, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Bom Jesus do Itabapoana,  RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Vilela
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Jham
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Eiras
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Picanco
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Attygalle
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Svatos
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Frighetto
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meinwald
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009036:Moths / Q000502:physiology*; D010571:Pest Control; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D012903:Smell
chemical_list: C101364:3,8,11-tetradecatrienyl acetate; D000085:Acetates; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D012724:Sex Attractants