Behavioral and Electrophysiological Activity of the Racemate and Enantiomers of a Monofluorinated Analog of European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Sex Pheromone

Abstract

The racemate and individual enantiomers of 2-fluoro-Z-11-tetradecenyl acetate (2F-Z-11), analogs of a European corn borer moth, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), female sex pheromone were compared with the natural pheromone, Z-11-tetradecenyl acetate, in field trapping experiments, flight tunnel studies, mating disruption assays and electrophysiological experiments. While the racemate and R-2F-Z-11 mimicked the natural female sex pheromone, they were not more biologically potent than the pheromone. The S-2F-Z-11 was largely ineffective in all assays and was, therefore, incompatible with the pheromone receptor system.