Peach shoot volatiles were attractive to mated female oriental fruit moth, Cydia molesta (Busck), in a dual choice arena. No preference was observed between leaf odours from the principle host plant, peach, and the secondary host plant, apple. Twenty-two compounds were identified in headspace volatiles of peach shoots using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Green leaf volatiles accounted for more than 50% of the total emitted volatiles. A bioassay-assisted fractionation using different sorbent polymers indicated an attractant effect of compounds with a chain length of 6-8 carbon atoms. The major compounds of this fraction were tested either singly or in combinations for behavioural response of females. Significant bioactivity was found for a three-component mixture of (Z)-3-hexen-1-yl acetate, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol and benzaldehyde in a 4:1:1 ratio. This synthetic mixture elicited a similar attractant effect as the full natural blend from peach shoots as well as the bioactive fraction.

The role of host plant‐derived volatile substances on the behaviour of adult codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is poorly understood. We tested the response of females and males to a range of α‐farnesene dosages. Natural α‐farnesene from apples contains the E,E and Z,E isomers in varying proportions. No difference in the response of C. pomonella to preparations containing two different proportions of the E,E and Z,E isomers was noted (77:20.7 or 1.2:84.7% E,E and Z,E isomers respectively), indicating a similar bioactivity of E,E and Z,E α‐farnesene on codling moth. A marked sexual dimorphism was found to increasing dosages of α‐farnesene. Females were attracted to low dosages (starting from 63.4 ng) and repelled by high dosages (ending at 12 688 ng). The dose response over this concentration range was linear with a negative slope. Both mated and virgin females responded similarly in kind but differently in degree, both attraction and repellency being more pronounced in mated females. Males were neither attracted nor repelled over a large dose range (63.4 to 12 688 ng) except the highest rate which was attractive. This indicates a stronger dependency of females on plant‐derived volatiles.

Host plant-derived esters were investigated as potential female-specific attractants for the codling moth (CM), Cydia pomonella (L.), a key pest of apples worldwide. The behavioural effects of single and combined volatile compounds and of a natural odour blend were examined using olfactometry and wind-tunnel bioassays. The apple-derived volatile butyl hexanoate attracted mated females while it was behaviourally ineffective for males over a dosage range of more than three orders of magnitude in olfactometer assays. Female CM preferred this kairomone to the headspace volatiles from ripe apples. Both no-choice and choice trials in the wind-tunnel suggested that female moths might be effectively trapped by means of this compound. In contrast, headspace volatiles collected from ripe apple fruits as well as a blend containing the six dominant esters from ripe apples were behaviourally ineffective. A female-specific repellency was found for the component hexyl acetate in the olfactometer, but this ester had no significant effect in the wind-tunnel. Butyl hexanoate with its sex-specific attraction should be further evaluated for monitoring and controlling CM females in orchards.