title: 3,13-Dimethylheptadecane: Major sex pheromone component of the western false hemlock looper,Nepytia freemani Munroe (Lepidoptera: Geometridae).
abstract: 3,13-Dimethylheptadecane (3,13-dime-17Hy) is the major sex pheromone component of the western false hemlock looper (WFHL),Nepytia freemani Munroe. It was identified in extracts of female pheromone glands by coupled gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and coupled GC-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Traps baited with 100μg of 3,13-dime-17Hy attracted large numbers of male WFHL. Of five additional candidate pheromone dimethylated hydrocarbons, only 3,13-dimethylhexadecane attracted male WFHL. However, neither 3,13-dime-16Hy nor the other four compounds enhanced attraction to 3,13-dime-17Hy when tested in binary or ternary combination at respective ratios of 100∶10, 100∶1, or 100∶1∶1. Identification of the complete WFHL sex pheromone requires structural elucidation of all 12 EAD-active components in gland extracts, determination of their chirality, and field testing of antennally active isomers in appropriate combinations and ratios. Stereoisomeric 3,13-dime-17Hy as trap bait may already be used to monitor WFHL populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Pest Management, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gries
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gries
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Wimalaratne
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Slessor
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Khaskin