Monitoring and mass-trapping methodologies using pheromones: the lesser date moth Batrachedra amydraula.

The lesser date moth (LDM) Batrachedra amydraula is a significant pest of date palm fruits. Previously, detection and monitoring of the pest was inaccurate due to high costs of sampling with lifting machines. We report a practical system for detection and monitoring of LDM based on pheromone traps and relevant models.

Diel periodicity of pheromone release by females of Planococcus citri and Planococcus ficus and the temporal flight activity of their conspecific males.

The diel periodicity of sex pheromone release was monitored in two mealybug species, Planococcus citri and Planococcus ficus (Hemiptera; Pseudococcidae), using sequential SPME/GCMS analysis. A maximal release of 2 ng/h pheromone by 9-12-day-old P. citri females occurred 1-2 h before the beginning of photophase.

Circadian release of male-specific components of the greater date moth, Aphomia (Arenipses) sabella, using sequential SPME/GC/MS analysis.

The greater date moth (GDM), Aphomia sabella Hampson (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae: Galleriinae), is a serious pest of date palms, Phoenix dactylifera. The release of volatiles from both males and females was investigated using sequential SPME/GC/MS analysis. Males release a complex mixture of compounds in a circadian rhythm during the night between 03:00 and 05:00 hr.

Male behaviors reveal multiple pherotypes within vine mealybug Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera; Pseudococcidae) populations.

The vine mealybug (VM) females collected in Israel produce two sex pheromone compounds: lavandulyl senecioate (LS) and (S)-lavandulyl isovalerate (LI). The males display ambiguous behavior to LI: repulsion in the vineyard and attraction of laboratory-reared males. We addressed the question of individual male behavior, i.

Pest management programmes in vineyards using male mating disruption.

Israeli vine growers have been reluctant to adopt the mating disruption technique for control of the European vine moth, Lobesia botrana Den. & Schiff. Since the chemically controlled honeydew moth, Cryptoblabes gnidiella Mill.

A common mode of attraction of larvae and adults of insect predators to the sex pheromone of their prey (Hemiptera: Matsucoccidae).

The attraction of several adult predators, genera Elatophilus, Hemerobius and Sympherobius, to the sex pheromones of pine bast scales, Matsucoccus Cockerell, has already been demonstrated. Here, the hypothesis that the larvae of these predators are similarly attracted to the host prey sex pheromone is tested. The response of predators was tested in field trials using pine tree arenas baited with the sex pheromones of M.

Circadian rhythms of sexual behavior and pheromone titers of two closely related moth species autographa gamma and Cornutiplusia circumflexa.

Two closely related plusiinae moths, Autographa gamma Linnaeus and Cornutiplusia circumflexa Linnaeus, are sympatric in Israel. Both species use identical sex pheromone components but in different ratios, and do not attempt to mate with each other. In addition to the effective reproductive separation by their sex pheromones, the sexual behavior of both species was compared to determine whether the lack of selection pressure might create additional barriers to cross-attraction and cross-mating.

Mating disruption of Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae): effect of pheromone formulations and concentrations.

The reluctance of Israeli vine growers to adopt the mating disruption technique to control the moth Lobesia botrana Den. & Schiff. has been attributed to the high cost of this method compared with that of traditional insecticide control.

Sex pheromone of the citrus mealybug Planococcus citri: synthesis and optimization of trap parameters.

A simple synthesis of the pheromone of the citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), has been developed. Various factors affecting capture of males have been assessed to optimize the trap design and to develop a lure with high efficacy and longevity. Male capture was the same with the racemic and chiral pheromone; technical pheromone (85% purity) was statistically as attractive as pure pheromone (97%).

Synthesis and biological activity of the four stereoisomers of 4-methyl-3-heptanol: main component of the aggregation pheromone of Scolytus amygdali.

Stereoisomers of 4-methyl-3-heptanol are major components of aggregation pheromones of bark beetles and trail pheromones of ants. Recently, (3S,4S)-4-methyl-3-heptanol (I) has been tentatively identified as the main component of the aggregation pheromone of the almond bark beetle, Scolytus amygdali (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). The four stereoisomers of 4-methyl-3-heptanol were prepared and bioassayed.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationship of diene modified analogs of Matsucoccus sex pheromones.

The biological activity of the Matsucoccus spp. sex pheromones and diene modified analogs has been tested in forests of Israel and Portugal in order to explore the structure-activity relationship of the pine bast scale pheromone/kairomone system. The response of the adult predatory bugs, Elatophilus hebraicus and E.

Sex pheromone of the vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus in Israel: occurrence of a second component in a mass-reared population.

Two pheromonal components were detected in airborne collections from the vine mealybug Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) mass-reared on potato sprouts. The compounds were identified as (S)-lavandulyl senecioate (I) and (S)-lavandulyl isovalerate (II) by GC and GC-MS by comparison with synthetic standards. Chiral GC analysis on a cyclodextrin column established their chirality.

Quantitative GC analysis of secondary alcohol pheromones: determination of release rate of red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, pheromone from lures.

Aliphatic secondary alcohols are components of several aggregation pheromones of important beetle and weevil pests. Some of these pheromones are used frequently for the monitoring and mass trapping of the relevant insects. We encountered severe difficulties in direct GC quantitative analysis of these compounds.

Pheromonal and kairomonal activities can be separated: synthesis and bioactivity studies of pine bast scale sex pheromones and their analogues.

New syntheses were achieved to secure matsuone (1), the pheromone of the pine scale Matsucoccus matsumurae, that of M. feytaudi (2), and that of M. josephi (3).

Antennal response and field attraction of the predator Elatophilus hebraicus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) to sex pheromones and analogues of three Matsucoccus spp. (Homoptera: Matsucoccidae).

The predator Elatophilus hebraicus is closely associated with its prey, the pine bast scale, Matsucoccus josephi, and utilizes the M. josephi sex pheromone as a kairomone. Kairomonal activity of E.

Chirality of israeli pine bast scale,Matsucoccus josephi (homoptera: Matsucoccidae) sex pheromone.

The absolute configuration of the sex pheromone of the Israeli pine bast scale,Matsucoccus josephi, was determined as (2E,5R,6E,8E)-5,7-dimethyl-2,6,8-decatrien-4-one, designated here asR-E with 10% (2E,5S,6E,8E)-5,7-dimethyl-2,6,8-decatrien-4-one, designated asS-E. The chirality of the quantitatively minorZ isomer was (2E,5R,6Z,8E)-5,7-dimethyl-2,6,8-decatrien-4-one (R-Z). Chiral assignments were made by comparative gas chromatographic (GC) analysis of naturalM.

Outdoor attractancy of males ofMatsucoccus josephi (Homoptera: Matsucoccidae) andElatophilus hebraicus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) to synthetic female sex pheromone ofMatsucoccus josephi.

The active component of the sex pheromone ofMatsucoccus josephi is (2E,6E,8E)-5,7-dimethyl-2,6,8-decatrien-4-one; the chemical is also a powerful kairomone of adult males and females of the bugElatophilus hebraicus the principal predator ofM. josephi. The presence of theZ isomer (2E,6Z,8E)-5,7-dimethyl-2,6,8-decatrien-4-one does not interfere with the attractancy of the activeE component forM.

Role of sex pheromone components in behavioral reproductive isolation betweenAutographa gamma (L.) and eitherTrichoplusia ni (Hübner) ORChrysodeixis chalcites (Esp.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae).

The composition of theAutographa gamma sex pheromone was reexamined and only (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate and (Z)-7-dodecenol were identified by capillary GC, GC-MS, and dimethyl disulfide derivatization and subsequent GC-MS analysis. The fatty acid content of the pheromone glands was also studied, and a series of saturated and unsaturated acids was identified. However, most of the related pheromonal compounds were not detected.

Female sex pheromone of oriental tobacco budworm,Helicoverpa assulta (Guenee) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Identification and field testing.

Analysis of ovipositor washings from virgin femaleHelicoverpa assulta (Guenée) (Lepidoptere: Noctuidae) from Korea by gas chromatography (GC) linked to electroantennography and GC linked to mass spectrometry resulted in the identification of nine compounds, hexadecanal, (Z)-9-hexadecenal, (Z)-11-hexadecenal, hexadecyl acetate, (Z)-9-hexadecenyl acetate, (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate, hexadecan-l-ol, (Z)-9-hexadecen-l-ol, and (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol. However, ovipositor washings from females from Thailand contained mainly the 16-carbon aldehydes with very small amounts of (Z)-9-hexadecenyl acetate. Field tests conducted in Korea, China, and Thailand indicated that a binary blend of (Z)-9-hexadecenal and (Z)-11-hexadecenal was sufficient for attraction, although the most attractive ratio of compounds varied with location.

Immunochemical and biological analysis of pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide in Heliothis peltigera.

This study describes the preparation and characterization of a highly specific antiserum to Helicoverpa zea pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (Hez-PBAN), and the use of this antiserum, in an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), to determine: a) the content of endogenous PBAN in head extracts of male and female Heliothis peltigera; b) the level of PBAN at different developmental stages; and c) the content of PBAN in four different moth species. Cross-reactivity studies revealed that the antiserum is directed mainly toward the N-terminal region of the neuropeptide, and that it exhibits similar binding affinities toward the oxidized and reduced forms of PBAN. Analysis of PBAN content in head extracts of male and female H.

Sexual behavior ofMatsucoccus josephi (Homoptera: Margarodidae) : Asynchronous adult male emergence and release of female sex pheromone.

The daily emergence patterns ofMatsucoccus josephi adults and third-instar male larvae raised on artificially infested saplings ofPinus halepensis were determined. A single peak of emergence was found for adult males between 0300 and 0500 hr. Adult females emerged throughout the day, with maximum emergence between 0500 and 0700 hr.

Identification of sex pheromone component of spruce budmothZeiraphera canadensis.

The analyses of virgin female sex pheromone gland extracts by gas chromatography (GC), GC-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) followed by field-trapping experiments, have identified (E)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (E9-14:Ac) as the primary sex pheromone component of the spruce budmoth,Zeiraphera canadensis. Dosages of 1.0-100.

Female sex pheromone components ofHeliothis peltigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) : Chemical identification from gland extracts and male response.

Ten compounds were found in the sex pheromone glands ofHeliothis peltigera (Schiff) and identified as tetradecenal, (Z)-9-tetradecenal, (Z)-9-tetradecenol, (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, hexadecanal, (Z)-7-hiexadecenal, (Z)-9-hexadecenal, (Z)-11-hexadecenal, (Z)-11-hexadecenol, and (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate. Behavioral tests in a wind tunnel and subsequent trapping studies conducted in the field indicated that (Z)-11-hexadecenal and (Z)-9-tetradecenal are the main pheromone components ofH. peltigera.

Identification of sex pheromone components from pheromone gland volatiles of the tomato looper,Plusia chalcites (Esp.).

The sex pheromone glands ofPlusia chalcites release, dodecyl acetate, (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate, (Z)-9-dodecenyl acetate, 11-dodecenyl acetate, (Z)-8-tridecenyl acetate, and (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate. A combination of capillary GC, GC-MS, and dimethyl disulfide derivatization enabled a rigorous identification of all these compounds, some of which were previously found in gland extracts. Bioassays in a flight tunnel showed that a ternary blend of (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate, (Z)-9-dodecenyl acetate, and (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate elicited directed flights from 85 to 100% of the males tested and elicited copulation attempts, at the end of the flights, from 44 to 74% of the males tested.

Synthesis and field bioassay of some analogs of sex pheromone of citrus mealybug,Planococcus citri (Risso).

A series of structural analogs of (s+)-cis-(1R)-3-isopropenyl-2,2-dimethylcyclobutanemethanol acetate, sex pheromone of the citrus mealybug,Planococcus citri (Risso), was synthesized. The analogs were tested in a field bioassay in order to determine the structure-activity relationships of the pheromone. All changes in structure reduced the activity of the test compounds, to various degrees.