SEX-PHEROMONE ACTIVITY IN A SINGLE-COMPONENT OF TERGAL GLAND EXTRACT OF LUTZOMYIA-LONGIPALPIS (DIPTERA, PSYCHODIDAE) FROM JACOBINA, NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL

The sex pheromone component of male Lutzomyia longipalpis tergal gland extract was isolated and its activity confirmed by bioassay. Whole tergal gland extract was analyzed by HPLC and fractions were collected as they eluted from the detector. Each fraction was tested in an attraction bioassay with virgin unfed female Lutzomyia longipalpis. HPLC analysis showed that whole extract contained several peaks; one large peak, one small peak and several minor peaks. Purity of the HPLC fractions was determined by GC analysis. The bioassays revealed that the large peak was responsible for most of the observed female behavior. The addition of the small peak to the large peak improved the response although by itself the small peak failed to elicit any significant behavior. Minor peaks failed to elicit any response. Chemical analysis revealed the large peak to be a relatively nonpolar hydrocarbon.