Sex pheromone of aPlanotortrix excessana sibling species and reinvestigation of related species

Abstract

The sex pheromone of aPlanotortrix excessana sibling species was investigated. Females were found to produce eight potential pheromone components: dodecyl acetate, tetradecyl acetate (14∶OAc). (Z)-5-tetradecenyl acetate (Z5-14∶OAc), (Z)-7-tetradecenyl acetate (Z7-14∶OAc), (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, hexadecyl acetate, (Z)-7-hexadecenyl acetate, and (Z)-9-hexadecenyl acetate. When these compounds were bioassayed using field-trapping and wind-tunnel techniques, only 14∶OAc,Z5-14∶OAc, andZ7-14∶OAc were found to be behaviorally active. The sex pheromone glands of females of other species including,Planotortrix “MBS,”Planotortrix “M,”P. notophaea, Ctenopseustis servana, and aC. obliquana sibling species, were also found to containZ5-14∶OAc orZ7-14∶OAc, singly or in combination. In the case ofPlanotortrix “M,” the addition ofZ7-14∶OAc to the previously identified sex pheromone blend ofZ5-14∶OAc and 14∶OAc was found to increase trap captures of male moths of this species. Thus in these New Zealand species (and in some Australian species),Z5-14∶OAc andZ7-14∶OAc appear to be utilized in combination in pheromonal communication just as (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate and (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate are used by many species of Holarctic Tortricidae in the tribe Archipini.