Abstract
Three compounds were isolated from female abdominal tips of the tea tortrix,Homona coffearia Neitner (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and identified as 1-dodecanol, 1-dodecyl acetate, and (E)-9-dodecen-1-yl acetate by chemical tests and mass spectrometry. These were the only appreciably active compounds detected in female gland extracts by male electroantennography of gas chromatographic collections. Synthetic (E)-9-dodecenyl acetate was shown to be active in attracting male moths in the field, and this activity was greatly increased by addition of dodecyl acetate and dodecanol. A very active lure for monitoring consists of 1 mg (E)-9-dodecenyl acetate, 3 mg dodecanol, and 1 mg dodecyl acetate in a polyethylene cap.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beroza, M., andBierl, B.A. 1966. Apparatus for ozonolysis of microgram to milligram amounts of compound.Anal. Chem. 38:1976–1977.
Beroza, M., andBierl, B.A. 1967. Rapid determination of olefin position in organic compounds in microgram range by ozonolysis and gas chromatography.Anal. Chem. 39:1131–1135.
Hill, A., CardÉ, R., Comeau, A., Bode, W., andRoelofs, W. 1974. Sex pheromones of the tufted apple bud moth(Platynota ideusalis).Environ. Entomol. 3:249–252.
Miller, J.R., Baker, T.C., CardÉ, R.T., andRoelofs, W.L. 1976. A reinvestigation of oak leafroller sex pheromone components and the hypothesis that they vary with diet.Science 192:140–143.
Nesbitt, B.F., Beevor, P.S., Cole, R.A., Lester, R., andPoppi, R.G. 1973. Sex pheromones of two noctuid moths.Nature 244:208–209.
Roelofs, W. 1977. The scope and limitations of the electroantennogram technique in identifying pheromone components, pp. 147–165,in N. R. McFarlane (ed.). Crop Protection Agents—Their Biological Evaluation. Academic Press, New York.
Roelofs, W., andComeau, A. 1971. Sex attractants in Lepidoptera, pp. 91–112in A.S. Tahori, (ed.). Proc. 2nd Int. IUPAC Congr. Pesticide Chem., Tel Aviv. Vol. 3,Chemical Releasers in Insects. Gordon and Breach, New York.
Roelofs, W., Comeau, A., Hill, A., andMilicevic, G. 1971. Sex attractant of the codling moth: Characterization with electroantennogram technique.Science 174:297–299.
Roelofs, W., Hill, A., CardÉ, R., Tette, J., Madsen, H., andVakenti, J. 1974. Sex pheromones of the fruittree leafroller moth,Archips agryrospilus.Environ. Entomol. 3:747–751.
Roelofs, W., Hill, A., andCardÉ, R. 1975. Sex pheromone components of the redbanded leafroller,Argyrotaenia velutinana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).J. Chem. Ecol. 1:83–89.
Sivapalan, P., andVitarana, S.I. 1975. Assessment of sex pheromone activity in virgin female moths of the tea tortrix(Homona coffearia Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and its utilization in monitoring moth populations in tea fields.Tea Q. 45:24–28.
Sivapalan, P., Vitarana, S.I., andGnanapragasam, N.C. 1977. Diets for rearing the tea tortrix,Homona coffearia (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in vitro.Entomol. Exp. Appl. 21:51–56.
Smith, G.G., Daterman, G.E., Daves, G.D., Jr., Mcmurtrey, K.D., andRoelofs, W.L. 1974. Sex pheromone of the European pine shoot moth: Chemical identification and field tests.J. Insect Physiol. 20:661–668.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Lepidoptera: Tortricidae
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kochansky, J.P., Roelofs, W.L. & Sivapalan, P. Sex pheromone of the tea tortrix moth (Homona coffearia Neitner). J Chem Ecol 4, 623–631 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00990272
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00990272