The scarab beetleAnomala albopilosa sakishimana utilizes the same sex pheromone blend as a closely related and geographically isolated species,Anomala cuprea

Abstract

Two components were identified in the sex pheromone system of the green chafter,Anomala albopilosa sakishimana Nomura: (R,Z)-5-(-)-(oct-1-enyl)oxacyclopentan-2-one (buibuilactone) and (R,Z)-5-(-)-(dec-1-enyl)oxyacyclopentan-2-one (japonilure), which have been previously identified as sex pheromone constituents ofA. cuprea andA. octiescostata. A female-specific minor component, (R,E)-5-(-)-(oct-1-enyl)oxacyclopentan-2-one, did not seem to be involved in pheromonal communication because it was not EAD active, but its role remained unclear. A synthetic blend of the two components captured significantly more beetles than any other treatments. Nevertheless, the fact that both the synthetic sex pheromone and field-captured female beetles were weak lures convinced us that the sex pheromone system may be only part of a complex communication system, probably involving plant volatiles. Although the sex pheromone was released during both the scotophase and photophase, there was an increase of 60% in the photophase.