Vol. 41 No. 2, 2002

Investigation of Possible Sex Pheromone Components of Female Loreyi Leafworm, Acantholeucania loreyi (Duponchel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Taiwan

Hsiao Yung Ho1, Ru Shiow Tsai1, Err Lieh Hsu2, Yien Shing Chow1, and Rong Kou1,*

¹Institute of Zoology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan 115
²Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan 106

H. Y. Ho, R. S. Tsai, E. L. Hsu, Y. S. Chow, and R. Kou (2002) In total, 8 components, i.e., dodecyl acetate (12:Ac), (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate (Z7-12:Ac), tetradecyl acetate (14:Ac), (Z)-7-tetradecenyl acetate (Z7-14:Ac), (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9- 14:Ac), hexadecyl acetate (16:Ac), (Z)-7-hexadecenyl acetate (Z7-16:Ac), and (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate (Z11- 16:Ac), were extracted and identified from Acantholeucania loreyi female tips, with Z7-12:Ac, Z9-14:Ac, and Z11- 16:Ac being the 3 major ones. Virgin females initiating calling at 2, 3, 4, or 5 d old, respectively, were analyzed individually for these 3 components via GC. Among different age groups, broad and similar distributions were found both for the titer (X = 121.3 ± 9.4 ng/female, range 66.2~260.5 ng/female) and for the ratio (a combined wash ratio of Z7-12:Ac/Z9-14:Ac/Z11-16:Ac = 14/72/14, range 13-16/70-72/12-17) of the 3 major components. Single components of Z7-12:Ac, Z7-14:Ac, Z9-14:Ac, and Z7-16:Ac elicited strong electroantennogram (EAG) responses in 3-d-old virgin males; the other 4 components, 12:Ac, 14:Ac, 16:Ac, and Z11-16:Ac, elicited little EAG response. A mixture of Z9-14:Ac and Z7-12:Ac (in a ratio of 85/15) elicited an EAG response comparable to that elicited by the female extract, and further addition of Z11-16:Ac to this mixture (in a ratio of 72/14/14) showed no additive effect on the EAG response.

Key words: EAG, Z7-12:Ac, Z7-14:Ac, Z9-14:Ac, Z7-16:Ac, Z11-16:Ac.

*Correspondence: Tel: 886-2-27899541. Fax: 886-2-27858059. E-mail: kourong@gate.sinica.edu.tw