title: L-leucine methyl ester: the female-produced sex pheromone of the scarab beetle, Phyllophaga lanceolata.
abstract: The female-produced sex pheromone of the scarab beetle Phyllophaga lanceolata was identified as the methyl ester of an essential amino acid, L-leucine. During field testing, 239 male P. lanceolata were caught in traps baited with L-leucine methyl ester. L-Isoleucine and L-valine methyl esters, similar in structure to L-leucine methyl ester and previously identified as female-produced sex pheromone compounds employed by other Phyllophaga species, were also tested. Addition of L-valine or L-isoleucine methyl esters to the L-leucine methyl ester in 1:1 ratios completely inhibited attraction of P. lanceolata males. Males of P. squamipilosa were also captured using L-leucine methyl ester. This is the first record of P. squamipilosa from Kansas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Cornell University, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, New York 14456, USA.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nojima
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.forename: Glenn A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Salsbury
authors.forename: Bruce D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Wendell L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Roelofs
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Villani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007930:Leucine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012724:Sex Attractants; C030365:leucine methyl ester; D007930:Leucine