IDENTIFICATION OF SEX-PHEROMONES OF 2 SIBLING SPECIES IN DINGY CUTWORM COMPLES, FELTIA-JACULIFERA (GN) (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE)

The sex pheromone components of the two sibling species of the dingy cutworm that occur on the prairies of western Canada were identified in abdomen-tip extracts from calling female moths. Three monounsaturated acetates, (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate, (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, and (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate, are common to both species in ratios of 100:13:3 for species A and 0.3:0.5:100 for species B. The most effective synthetic blends for the attraction of male moths in the field consisted of these three components in ratios of 10:1:0 at 8.8 Μg/lure for species A and 1:1:2000 at 500 Μg/lure for species B. The addition of Z5-12:Ac to either blend reduced the catches and the addition of Z7-12:OH orZ11-16:OH to the three-component blend reduced the catches of species B males. The species are morphologically indistinguishable, but the identity of the males attracted to the synthetic blends could be confirmed by their antennal responses to a test blend of the three components using a GC-EAD system. Both synthetic attractant blends are competitive with females and will be useful for studying the distribution, biology, and relative abundances of the two species. © 1990 Plenum Publishing Corporation.