Annual Review of Entomology (2000) 45, 575-604

Jocelyn G. Millar (2000)
Polyene hydrocarbons and epoxides: A second major class of lepidopteran sex attractant pheromones
Annual Review of Entomology 45, 575-604
Abstract: Polyene hydrocarbons and epoxides are used as pheromone components and sex attractants by four macrolepidopteran families: the Geometridae, Noctuidae, Arctiidae, and Lymantriidae. They constitute a second major class of lepidopteran pheromones, different from the C₁₀-C₁₈ acetates, alcohols, and aldehydes commonly found in other species. They are biosynthesized from diet-derived linoleic or linolenic acids and are characterized by C₁₇-C₂₃ straight chains, 1-3 cis double bonds separated by methylene groups, and 0, 1, or 2 epoxide functions. Pheromone blends are created from components with different chain lengths, numbers of double bonds, and functional groups, or from mixtures of epoxide regioisomers or enantiomers, with several examples of synergism between enantiomers. Behavioral antagonists also limit interspecific attraction, with numerous examples of antagonism by enantiomers. This review summarizes the taxonomic distribution, mechanisms used to generate unique pheromone blends, and the identification, synthesis, and biosynthesis of these compounds.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Jocelyn G. Millar

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
pheromones/attractants/traps

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Anticarsia gemmatalis
	Orgyia pseudotsugata
	Operophtera brumata
	Peribatodes rhomboidaria
	Bupalus piniarius
	Alabama argillacea
	Estigmene acrea
	Erannis defoliaria
	Euproctis chrysorrhoea
	Lymantria mathura
	Alsophila pometaria
	Ascotis selenaria