Sex Pheromone Chemistry of the Eastern Spruce Budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana1

Abstract

Chemical analyses of glands from virgin female eastern spruce bud worm by capillary GC show three major classes of compounds: 14-carbon aldehydes, acetates and alcohols. Each class consists of an E11/Z11 unsaturated pair with an E/Z ratio of 95/5. The corresponding saturated compounds in each class are also present at 2–3% of the E11-components. E11-14:Ac is the major component of the gland, 30–40 ng/insect with E11-14:Ald and E11-14:OH at 1–3 ng/insect. Analysis of female effluvia collected on Porapak Q® and pumping chamber washes show the presence of four compounds, E11-14:Ald, Z11-14:Ald, 14:Ald and E11-14:Ac (95:5:2:0.2). Rate of emission of E11-14:Ald from 2–3 day old virgin females maximized at 20–40 ng/insect/night. Preliminary field data indicate that attractancy of lures containing all four components present in a similar source ratio to a calling female is not significantly different from lures containing E11/Z11 unsaturated aldehydes alone.