FEMALE SEX-PHEROMONE OF THE LONGHORN BEETLE MIGDOLUS-FRYANUS WESTWOOD - N-(2'S)-METHYLBUTANOYL 2-METHYLBUTYLAMINE

The first known long-range female-released sex pheromone for the family Cerambycidae is reported from Migdolus fryanus, a sugarcane pest in South America. Although two female-specific compounds, namely, N-(2'S)methylbutanoyl 2-methylbutylamine and N-formyl L-isoleucine methyl esters were identified, field tests with synthetic chemicals revealed that only the amide was active and that the amino acid derivative neither increased or decreased trap catches by the amide. This is the first identification of an amide as a sex pheromone.