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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Newark, Delaware » Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #181161
Title: (Z,E)-6,8-HENEICOSADIEN-11-ONE: MAJOR SEX PHEROMONE COMPONENT OF ORGYIA VETUSTA (LEPIDOPTERA: LYMANTRIIDAE)

Author
item GRIES, REGINE - SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
item Schaefer, Paul
item YOO, HJS - UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
item GREAVES, M - BODEGA BAY CALIFORNIA
item GRIES, G - SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: The Canadian Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/31/2005
Publication Date: 8/20/2005
Citation: Gries, R., Schaefer, P.W., Yoo, H., Greaves, M., Gries, G. 2005. (z,e)-6,8-heneicosadien-11-one: major sex pheromone component of orgyia vetusta (lepidoptera: lymantriidae). The Canadian Entomologist. 137(4): 471-475

Interpretive Summary: In coastal California, the western tussock moth, Orgyia vetusta, is sometimes a pest of fruit and nut trees but is most often found on beach lupines, Lupines or live oaks, Quercus agrifolia. We targeted this species for identification of its sex pheromone and found its pheromone communication is based on a diene ketone, (Z,E)-6,8-Heneicosadien-11-one. When we used this compound as a trap lure in field trapping experiments at Montana de Oro State Park, San Luis Obispo County, California, sufficient males were captured to prove that this synthetic lure can now be used to monitor populations or to further study the response behavior of males to this synthetic sex pheromone.

Technical Abstract: The western tussock moth, Orgyia vetusta (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), a coastal Californian species which frequent feeds on bush lupines, Lupinus, or live oaks, Quercus agrifolia, was found to utilize a diene ketone, (Z,E)-6,8-Heneicosadien-11-one, as its major sex pheromone component. We can now use the synthetic version of this compound as a trap lure to monitor populations or further study male behavior of this California tussock moth.