Sex Pheromone of Lonomia obliqua: Daily Rhythm of Production, Identification, and Synthesis

Abstract

The sex pheromone of Lonomia obliqua Walker (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) was studied in the laboratory. All female calling occurred during the scotophase. Most females (70.6%) called first within 24 hr of eclosion. Calling varied with age of female, with older (5-to 6-day-old) females calling earlier in the scotophase and for longer durations than younger (0-to 1-day-old) females. The sex pheromone gland of 1-to 3-day-old virgin females was extracted during the calling peak. A Y-olfactometer bioassay showed significant attraction of males to a filter paper containing the female gland extract. Gas chromatographic-electroantennogram detection (GC-EAD) analysis of the extract indicated the presence of at least two possible pheromone components. Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of the major GC-EAD-active peak indicated a hexadecenyl acetate; chemical derivatization indicated Δ11 unsaturation. Synthetic samples of (E)-and (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate were obtained by coupling 10-bromo-1-decanol and 1-hexyne, utilizing lithium chemistry. The comparison of the retention time of dimethyl disulfide derivatives of the natural compound, to those of synthetic chemicals, confirmed the natural compound as (E)-11-hexadecenyl acetate. The minor component was identified as the related alcohol, (E)-11-hexadecenol. The ratio of the two components in female extract was 100:35. Preliminary tests of males in a Y-olfactometer showed that their response to a mixture of the two compounds was not significantly different from that to gland extract.

Reproductive behaviour of Crocidosema (=Epinotia) aporema (Walsingham) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae): temporal pattern of female calling and mating

“…Interestingly, our data suggest that older females tend to begin calling earlier in the scotophase, thereby increasing the calling period. The same tendency has been observed in related and unrelated moth species (Knight 1996, Knight & Turner 1998, Zarbin et al 2007, and it is likely to be a more generalized trend among moths.…”

Identification and Synthesis of the Male-Produced Sex Pheromone of the Soldier BeetleChauliognathus fallax(Coleoptera: Cantharidae)

“…This was sealed and maintained at 30 o C for 12 h. The resulting solution was washed with a 10% solution of Na 2 S 2 O 3 and filtered over Na 2 SO 4 prior to GC-MS analysis. 12 …”

Toward the Identification of the Sex Pheromone of Diatraea indigenella Dyar & Heinrich (Lepidoptera: Crambidae): Calling Behavior and Chemical Structure of a Major Component

“…The calling behavior during the first scotophase may be related to the reproductive maturity at emergence, since the association of pheromone production and sexual maturity has been described for various lepidopteran species (Webster & Cardé 1982;Babilis & Mazomenos 1992, Delisle & Royer 2004, Del Mazo-Cancino et al 2004, Gómez & Rojas 2006, Da Silva et al 2006. This behavior may also be associated with an increase in the probability of mating by being the first in attracting males (Turgeon & McNeil 1982, Gadenne 1993, Batista-Pereira et al 2004, Zarbin et al 2007.…”