title: Flight Tunnel Response of Male European Corn Borer Moths to Cross-Specific Mixtures of European and Asian Corn Borer Sex Pheromones: Evidence Supporting a Critical Stage in Evolution of a New Communication System.
abstract: Previous flight tunnel studies showed that 3-5 % of male European corn borer (ECB) moths, Ostrinia nubilalis, could fly upwind and make contact with sources releasing the sex pheromone of the closely related Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrina furnacalis, [2:1 (Z)-12-tetradecenyl acetate (Z12-14:OAc) : (E)-12-teradecenyl acetate (E12-14:OAc)] and that 2-4 % of ACB males could similarly fly upwind to the sex pheromone blends of the ECB Z- [97:3 (Z)-tetradecenyl acetate (Z11-14:OAc) : (E)-tetradecenyl acetate (E11-14:Ac)] and E-strains (1:99 Z/E11-14:OAc) pheromones. The results supported the hypothesis that the evolution of the ACB pheromone system from an ECB-like ancestor included a stage in which males could be attracted to the unusual females emitting Z12- and E12-14:OAc while retaining their responsiveness to the ancestral pheromone blend of Z11- and E11-14:OAc. Here, we showed further that ECB E-strain males exhibited upwind oriented flight and source contacts to sources containing all combinations of ECB and ACB components. Maximal response levels were observed with the E-strain 99:1 E11/Z11-14:OAc blend, and high response levels also were observed with two other blends containing E11-14:OAc as the major component (E11:E12 and E11:Z12). Upwind flight and source contact also occurred at lower levels with the remaining blend combinations in which Z11-, E12-, or Z12-14:OAc was the major component. Our current results support the hypothesis concerning the evolution of ACB from an ECB-like ancester by showing that males were able to respond to females producing either the 12-14:Ac isomers, 11-14:Ac isomers, or even mixtures of all four components.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY, 14456, USA.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY, 14456, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Entomology Department, NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY, 14456, USA.
authors.forename: Callie J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Musto
authors.affiliation: Entomology Department, NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY, 14456, USA. cel1@cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Linn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001208:Asia; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009036:Moths / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012724:Sex Attractants
keywords: Flight tunnel; Mating behavior; Pheromone response specificity; Sex pheromone