Characterization of pheromone blend for grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana by using flight track recording

The behavioral responses of Lobesia botrana males to calling females, pheromone gland extracts, and synthetic sex pheromones were recorded in a wind tunnel. Gland extracts and synthetic pheromones were released from a pheromone evaporator. The numbers of males reaching the source and their flight tracks in response to calling females and pheromone gland extracts were compared to those of synthetic blends. Upwind flights to natural sex pheromone were straighter and faster than to a three-component blend of (E)-7,(Z)-9-dodecadienyl acetate (E7,Z9-12 : Ac), (E)-7,(Z)-9-dodecadien-1-ol (E7,Z9-12 : OH), and (Z)-9-docecenyl acetate (29-12 : Ac) (100 : 20 : 5). The optimum ratio of E7,Z9-12 : OH and 29-12 : Ac to E7,Z9-12 : Ac was found to be 5% and 18, respectively An additional seven compounds identified in the sex pheromone gland were investigated for their biological activity. Two unsaturated acetates, i.e., (E)-9-dodecenyl acetate (E9-12 : Ac) and Delta 11-dodecenyl acetate (Delta 11-12 : Ac), increased the number of males reaching the source as well as straightness, linear velocity, and decreased the track angle of upwind flight. Optimum response was obtained by releasing 10 pg/min E7,Z9-12 : Ac in a mixture with 0.5 pg/min E7,Z9-12 : OH, 0.1 pg/min 29-12 : Ac, 0.1 pg/min E9- 12 : Ac and 1 pg/min Delta 11-12-Ac. The saturated acetates previously identified in the female glands were biologically inactive.