Sex Attractant of the Rosy Russian Gypsy Moth (Lymantria mathura Moore)

Abstract

Abstract We report identification of the sex attractant of the rosy Russian gypsy moth, Lymantria mathura Moore. Two compounds, Z,Z,Z-3,6,9-nonadecatriene 1 and its monoepoxide Z,Z-(9S,10R)-9,10-epoxy-3,6-nonadecadiene 4a, have been identified from abdominal tip ex­ tracts of female moths based on coupled gas chromatography/electroantennogram detector responses and dose response curves. Single cell recordings showed that only one of the mo­ noepoxide enantiomers (S,R) was active. In field tests, both the (S,R)-monoepoxide and the racemate were active. This type of pheromone system, unusual for a Lymantriid, is more typical of those found in the families Arctiidae, Noctuidae and Geometridae.