Journal of Applied Entomology (2012) 136, 70-78

C. Löfstedt, G.P. Svensson, E.V. Jirle, O. Rosenberg, A. Roques and J.G. Millar (2012)
(3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-pentacosapentaene and (9Z,11E)-tetradecadienyl acetate: sex pheromone of the spruce coneworm Dioryctria abietella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
Journal of Applied Entomology 136 (1-2), 70-78
Abstract: The spruce coneworm, Dioryctria abietella Denis and Schiffermüller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a major pest in spruce seed orchards in Europe. Initial work on its pheromone ecology reported significant attraction of males to (9Z,11E)-tetradecadienyl acetate (9Z,11E-14:OAc), but this compound appeared to be a very weak attractant in field trials. In this study, we show that a second female-produced compound, the polyunsaturated long-chain hydrocarbon (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-pentacosapentaene (C25 pentaene), is a strong synergist to 9Z,11E-14:OAc, and that both compounds are needed for significant attraction of males. In field-trapping experiments, the highest catches were obtained with high amounts of pentaene added to the acetate (acetate:pentaene ratio from 1 : 10 to 1 : 30) and the highest doses (1-3 mg per rubber septum dispenser) were the most attractive. Two potential behavioural synergists, (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate and (9Z,12E)-tetradecadienyl acetate, turned out to be behavioural antagonists and both reduced trap catch of D. abietella in a dose-dependent way when added individually to the binary blend. The recent discovery of the C25 pentaene as a pheromone component of D. abietella, as well as of three North American congeners, suggests that the use of a mixture of so-called type I and type II pheromone compounds is a widespread motif of sexual communication within the genus. The identification of a highly attractive sex pheromone will help in developing efficient strategies for monitoring and control of D. abietella populations in European spruce seed orchards.
(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): Olle Rosenberg, Glenn P. Svensson, Jocelyn G. Millar

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Dioryctria abietella	Spruce (Picea)	France