Sex Pheromone of Tortrix viridana: (Z)-11-Tetradecenyl Acetate as the Main Component

Abstract

In electroantennographic studies on Tortrix viridana ma­les, (E)-11-tridecenyl acetate displayed the highest activity of all straight-chain alkenyl acetates. However, evidence obtained by gas chromatography coupled to an electroan­tennographic detector or a mass spectrometer indicated that the ubiquitous pheromone compound (Z)-11-tetrade- cenyl acetate is the main component in the T. viridana fe­male secretion. This compound and both (Z)- and (E)-11- tridecenyl acetate were found to be attractants for T. viridana males in the field. (Z)-9- and (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate were not attractive and reduced male catches when added to either (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate or (E)-11-tridecenyl acetate. No evidence for synergistic effects was obtained.