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Updated: May 4, 2026

Author Spotlight: Examining Volatile Sex Pheromone Influence on Male C. elegans Behavior
Published on: August 9, 2024
Sex pheromone of the tomato looper,Plusia chalcites (ESP)
E Dunkelblum1, S Gothilf, M Kehat
1ARO The Volcani Center, Institute of Plant Protection, Bet Dagan, Israel.
Abstract:
Z-7-Dodecenyl acetate (A) andZ-9-tetradecenyl acetate (B), in a 5∶1 ratio, have been identified as sex pheromone components of femalePlusia chalcites. In addition, small amounts of dodecyl acetate, tetradecyl acetate, hexadecyl acetate, andZ-9-dodecenyl acetate have been found in the abdominal tip extracts. This is the first known Plusiinae species which utilizes a two-component primary sex pheromone system. The most effective lure found in field experiments was a mixture of 1 mg A and 0.2 mg B absorbed on rubber septa.

