Sex pheromone of tomato fruit borer, Neoleucinodes elegantalis

Five candidate pheromone components were identified by analyzing pheromone gland extracts by gas chromatography (GC), coupled GC-electroantennographic detection (EAD), and coupled GC-mass spectrometry (MS) : (E)-11-hexadecenol(E11-16 : OH), (Z)-11-hexadecenol (Z11-16 : OH), (E)-11-hexadecenal, (E)-11-hexadecenyl acetate, and (Z)-3,(Z)-6,(Z)-9-tricosatriene (Z3,Z6,Z9-23 : Hy). In electroantennogram (EAG) recordings, synthetic E11-16 : OH elicited stronger antennal responses at low doses than other candidate pheromone components. Field tests demonstrated that synthetic E11-16 : OH as a trap bait was effective in attracting males, whereas addition of Z11-16 : OH inhibited the males' response. Z3,Z6,Z9-23 : Hy strongly enhanced attractiveness of E11-16 : OH, but was not attractive by itself. A pheromone blend with synergistic behavioral activity of an alcohol (E11-16 : OH) and hydrocarbon (Z3,Z6,Z9-23 : Hy) component is most unusual in the Lepidoptera. The synthetic two-component pheromone is approximately 60 times more attractive than the female-produced blend and might facilitate the control of this pest.