Journal of Chemical Ecology (2004) 30, 167-174

William D.J. Kirk and James G.C. Hamilton (2004)
Evidence for a male-produced sex pheromone in the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis
Journal of Chemical Ecology 30 (1), 167-174
Abstract: Olfactometer bioassays of walking adult western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) showed that virgin females (1- to 3-d postemergence) were attracted to the odor of 25 adult males, but not to the odor of 25 adult females, providing behavioral evidence for a male-produced sex pheromone in this species. In contrast to earlier findings, mixed-age adult males were attracted to the odor of adult males. GC analysis of odors collected on SPME fibers revealed two major components and five minor components that were present in the male odor and not in the female odor. The compounds were not present in hexane extracts of males, indicating that these compounds are produced on demand and not stored.
(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): James G.C. Hamilton

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
pheromones/attractants/traps
general biology - morphology - evolution

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Frankliniella occidentalis