Chemistry and field evaluation of the sex pheromone of western spruce budworm,Choristoneura occidentalis, Freeman

Abstract

Chemical analyses and field bioassays showed a mixture of 92% (E)- and 8% (Z)-11-tetradecenal to be the sex attractant pheromone of the western spruce budworm,Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman. Females were also found to emit small amounts of the corresponding acetates and alcohols, but these components were not active in the bioassay. In contrast, in whole female tip extracts, (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate predominates, and aldehyde pheromone components are present in lesser quantities, suggesting that final biosynthesis of pheromone takes place just prior to or during emission. At release rates approximating that of the female (2–4 ng/hr), a 92∶8E∶Z blend of the synthetic aldehydes was at least as attractive as live females. Addition of the corresponding acetates or alcohols up to 50% of the aldehyde content did not significantly enhance or inhibit attraction. No major differences were apparent in pheromone production of females from a laboratory stock or from field collections from diverse geographic locations ranging from Colorado to British Columbia.