Female sex pheromone of the melonworm,Diaphania hyalinata (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), and analysis of male responses to pheromone in a flight tunnel

Abstract

Ten C16 chain-length compounds were identified from heptane extracts of ovipositors of female melonworm,Diaphania hyalinata (L.). The major constituents of the extracts were (E)-11-hexadecenal and (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienal [(E,E)-10,12-16:Ald] and the alcohols and acetates of these olefins were found in trace amounts (<2%). Extracts also contained traces of (E,Z)- and (Z,Z)-10,12-16:Ald, hexadecanal, and 1-hexadecanol. Analysis of the behavioral responses of males to synthetic mixtures of these compounds and responses to ovipositor extracts in a flight tunnel showed that a synthetic mixture of the 10 compounds elicited a behavioral repertoire from males that was indistinguishable from that elicited by ovipositor extract. Flight tunnel studies also indicated that six of the 10 compounds probably represent the essential components of the female's sex pheromone.