Electrophysiological and behavioral responses of a Cuban population of the sweet potato weevil to its sex pheromone.

The sex pheromone of feral sweet potato weevils Cylas formicarius elegantulus from Cuba was found, via solid-phase microextraction analysis, to be identical to (Z)-3-dodecenyl (E)-2-butenoate, a previously reported compound. Females emitted 20 pg pheromone d(-1). In scanning electron microscopy studies carried out on the male antenna, we identified several types of sensilla: sensilla trichoidea of type 1 (ST1) as long hairs (100-150 microm), sensilla trichoidea of type 2 as short hairs (50-60 microm), sensilla basiconica of type 1 as thick pegs (20-25 microm), sensilla basiconica of type 2 as curved pegs (10-15 microm), and sensilla basiconica of type 3 as thin and straight short pegs (15-20 microm).