(E4,E10)-DODECADIENYL ACETATE - NOVEL SEX-PHEROMONE COMPONENT OF TENTIFORM LEAFMINER, PHYLLONORYCTER-MESPILELLA (HUBNER) (LEPIDOPTERA, GRACILLARIIDAE)

(E4,E10)-dodecadienyl acetate (E4,E10-12:OAc) is a newly discovered sex pheromone component of the tentiform leafminer, Phyllonorycter mespilella (Hubner). In apple orchards, traps baited with 1 mug of E4,E10-12:OAc attracted P. mespilella in British Columbia and P. blancardella (F.) in Massachusetts and Nova Scotia. The compound was identified in P. mespilella by gas chromatographic-electroantennographic analysis (GC-EAD) of pheromone gland extracts, retention index calculations, EAD profiles to E3 to E10 dodecenyl acetates, and synthesis of candidate pheromone components. Even though E4,E10-12:OAc was not detected in gland extracts by GC-mass spectroscopy, several factors indicate that it is female-produced. Antennal responses to gland extracts coincided with authentic E4,E10-12:OAc on four GC columns with different retention characteristics. E4,E10-12:OAc and E10-12:OAc, a known female-produced pheromone component, elicited equally strong EAD responses. In field tests, E4,E10-12:OAc was two to four times more attractive than E10-12:OAc. There was no additive or synergistic effect between the two components.