EVIDENCE OF A MALE SEX PHEROMONE IN THE EUROPEAN CORN BORER, OSTRINIA NUBILALIS (HÜBNER) (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE)

Abstract

AbstractEuropean corn borer males have hair pencils located ventrally on the 8th sternite and these are extruded when a male approaches a calling female. The fact that (i) antennectomized females mated significantly less than both intact controls and individuals subjected to other forms of surgery, and (ii) males with hair pencils removed had a significantly lower mating success than control males, suggests that a male pheromone is involved in the mating system of the European corn borer.