Sex pheromone of the pine false webworm Acantholyda erythrocephala.
Females of the pine false webworm Acantholyda erythrocephala (L) produce the sex pheromone (Z)-6, 14-pentadecadienal, which attracts flying males in the field. By using gas chromatography coupled with electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and mass spectrometry (GC-MS), we detected (Z)-6,14-pentadecadienal in volatile collections and in whole body extracts of female A. erythrocephala. Females, but not males, also exhibited a 25-carbon cuticular hydrocarbon, (Z,Z)-1,9,15-pentacosatriene, which can oxidize to (Z)-6,14-pentadecadienal upon exposure to air and sunlight. (Z,Z)-1,9,15-Pentacosatriene and (Z)-6,14-pentadecadienal identifications were corroborated by comparison with synthetic standards. (Z)-6, 14-Pentadecadienal is the second pheromone identified for pamphilliid sawflies, and the first to elicit strong field attraction, and thus offer potential as a pheromone lure to aid in control of this forest pest.
Staples
Joseph K
JK
Department of Environmental Science, University of Southern Maine, Gorham, 04038, USA. jstaples@usm.maine.edu
Bartelt
Robert J
RJ
Cossé
Allard A
AA
Whitman
Douglas W
DW
D000447:Aldehydes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D028223:Pinus / Q000469:parasitology*; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*
D000447:Aldehydes; D012724:Sex Attractants; C057349:2,4-decadienal