Tarsi of Male Heliothine Moths Contain Aldehydes and Butyrate Esters as Potential Pheromone Components (original) (raw)
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Chemical Senses, 2004
Studies on numerous insect species suggest that male-produced sex pheromones play a role in attracting females; as aphrodisiacs, making females more quiescent; or as a means of inhibiting competing males. Male heliothine moths display abdominal hairpencils during courtship, but the specific effects of the odors released on female behavior have not yet been elucidated. This study investigates the role of male hairpencil compounds in female Heliothis virescens mating behavior. Female H. virescens were exposed to filter paper loaded with hairpencil extracts of male H. virescens, Heliothis subflexa and Helicoverpa zea, and observed for behavioral responses to odors. Single synthetic compounds found in the H. virescens hairpencil blend were also tested. In mating assays between single male and female H. virescens it was found that: (i) antennectomized females mated less frequently than sham-operated females; (ii) females mated less frequently with males whose hairpencils had been surgically removed; (iii) females mated with males with ablated hairpencils if a filter paper loaded with one male equivalent of H. virescens hairpencil extract was presented simultaneously; and (iv) this effect was species-specific, as presentation of H. subflexa or H. zea hairpencil extracts did not restore mate acceptance. This study suggests that odors released by male hairpencils are important in mate acceptance by female H. virescens, and may play a role in mate choice and species isolation.
Physiology of interspecific chemical communication in Heliothis moths
Physiological Entomology, 1990
Electroantennograms were recorded from the antennae of adult male and female corn earworms, Heliothis zea (Boddie). A total of seventeen female moth sex pheromone components from several species were tested. Of these, two components elicited significantly greater responses than the other fifteen. These were (2)-11hexadecenal, a conspecific component, and (2)-9-tetradecenal, a component found in the pheromone blend of a sympatric species H. virescens (F.) that inhibits attraction of H.zea males. The results from dose-response and selective adaptation studies indicate that there are separate populations of receptors for these two chemical signals on the antenna of male H.zea. The more sensitive population is selective for (2)-11-hexadecenal, while the less sensitive one responds to (Z)-9tetradecenal. These findings provide a physiological basis by which H.zea males can distinguish the interspecific repellent from the conspecific pheromone blend. It is likely that this discrimination contributes to reproductive isolation between these two species.
Pheromonotropic and pheromonostatic activity in moths
Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, 1994
Pheromone biosynthesis in many species of moths requires a pheromonotropic neurosecretion, the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN), from the brain-subesophageal ganglionxorpora cardiaca complex. Some investigators suggest that PBAN is released into the hemolymph and acts directly on sex pheromone glands (SPG) via a Ca++/calmodulin-dependent adenylate cyclase. Others suggest, however, that PBAN acts via octopamine that is released by nerves from the terminal abdominal ganglion innervating the SPG. These findings suggest that there are controversies on the mode of action of PBAN and other pheromonotropic factors, sometimes even within the same species.
Insect biochemistry and molecular biology, 2017
Most species of moths use a female-produced volatile sex pheromone, typically produced via de novo fatty acid synthesis in a specialized gland, for communication among mates. While de novo biosynthesis of pheromone (DNP) is rapid, suggesting transient precursor acids, substantial amounts of pheromone precursor (and other) acids are stored, predominantly in triacylglycerols in the pheromone gland. Whether these stored acids are converted to pheromone later or not has been the subject of some debate. Using a tracer/tracee approach, in which we fed female Heliothis virescens U-(13)C-glucose, we were able to distinguish two pools of pheromone, in which precursors were temporally separated (after and before feeding on labeled glucose): DNP synthesized from a mixed tracer/tracee acetyl CoA pool after feeding, and pheromone made from precursor acids primarily synthesized before feeding, which we call recycled precursor fat pheromone (RPP). DNP titer varied from high (during scotophase) to ...
European Journal of Entomology, 2007
Studies were conducted investigating the responses of female obliquebanded leafrollers, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) and redbanded leafrollers, Argyrotaenia velutinana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), to components of their sex pheromone. Electroantennogram (EAG) recordings revealed significant responses from antennae of female moths of both species to the major pheromone component, (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate, at dosages ranging from 2 µg-2 mg. However, tested individually, the minor pheromone components of the obliquebanded leafroller, (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate and (Z)-11-tetradecenol, elicited little or no antennal response from conspecific females. This result was consistent for redbanded leafroller females, which showed only weak responses to the minor component (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate at a 2 mg dosage. For both species, species-specific blend ratios of the Z and E isomers of tetradecenyl acetate did not elicit a greater antennal response than the Z isomer alone. Virgin females of each species (2-4 d old) were placed into 1-liter plastic assay chambers with constant throughput of carbon-filtered air passed through 1-liter flasks containing rubber septa loaded with (Z)-and (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetates and (Z)-11-tetradecenol for trials with female obliquebanded leafrollers or with (Z)-and (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetates and dodecyl acetate for trials with female redbanded leafrollers. Exposure to pheromone-permeated air delayed the onset of calling by 1 h and terminated the calling period 1 h earlier for both species compared with solvent-control exposed females. Furthermore, the total proportion of calling females was reduced by half in chambers receiving constant throughput of pheromone-permeated air compared with solvent controls. Exposure to pheromonepermeated air also significantly reduced egg-laying in both species compared with clean-air controls. Furthermore, application of the major pheromone component, (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate, at dosages ranging from 2 µg-2 mg to wax-paper ovipositional substrates, deterred oviposition by females of both species. Our data suggest that application of synthetic sex-attractant pheromones for mating disruption of leafroller species may have deleterious effects on female moth behavior, which may contribute to pest control. Field investigations will need to be conducted to test this hypothesis.
Applied Entomology and Zoology, 2012
The objective of this work was to identify the sex pheromone of Spodoptera cosmioides and to evaluate whether there is pheromone cross-attraction in Spodoptera sp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Spodoptera cosmioides gland extracts were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Wind tunnel and electrophysiology experiments were conducted to evaluate the role of gland compounds. In the field, different pheromone traps were tested: S. frugiperda commercial lure; (9Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9-14:OAc) and (9Z,12E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate (Z9,E12-14:OAc) trap; two females of S. cosmioides trap; and hexane control trap. Four acetates were identified in the S. cosmioides female gland extracts as Z9-14:OAc, Z9,E12-14:OAc, (11Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate (Z11-16:OAc) and hexadecyl acetate (16:OAc), but only the first two acetates induced electrophysiological responses from S. cosmioides male antennae. In wind tunnel experiments, S. cosmioides and S. frugiperda males responded more strongly to conspecific blends; however, there was some cross-attraction, as 47% males of S. frugiperda and 25% males of S. cosmioides responded to heterospecific blends. In field experiments, S. frugiperda and S. cosmioides showed the same response pattern as observed in the wind tunnel bioassays. In summary, the sex pheromone components of S. cosmioides are Z9-14:OAc and Z9,E12-14OAc; they are important for conferring species specificity, and there is pheromone-mediated cross attraction between S. frugiperda and S. cosmioides. Index terms: (9Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, (9Z,12E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate, cross-attraction, electrophysiology, pest monitoring, pheromone traps. Identificação e avaliação em campo do feromônio sexual de uma população brasileira de Spodoptera cosmioides Resumo-O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar o feromônio sexual de Spodoptera cosmioides e avaliar se existe atração cruzada em Spodoptera sp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Extratos de glândulas de S. cosmioides foram analisados por GC-FID e GC-MS. A ação dos compostos encontrados nas glândulas foi avaliada por meio de bioensaios em túnel de vento e eletrofisiologia. Em campo, testaram-se diferentes armadilhas feromonais: com feromônio comercial de S. frugiperda; com acetato de (9Z)-9-tetradecenila (Z9-14:OAc) e acetato de (9Z,12E)-9,12-tetradecadienila (Z9,E12-14:OAc); com duas fêmeas de S. cosmioides; e controle com hexano. Quatro acetatos foram identificados nas glândulas de fêmeas de S. cosmioides como Z9-14:OAc, Z9,E12-14:OAc, (11Z)-acetato de hexadecenila e acetato de hexadecila (16:OAc), mas somente os dois primeiros acetatos induziram resposta eletrofisiológica nas antenas de machos de S. cosmioides. Nos bioensaios em túnel de vento, machos de S. cosmioides e S. frugiperda responderam em maior número à mistura de coespecíficos; no entanto, houve atração cruzada, uma vez que 47% dos machos de S. frugiperda e 25% dos machos de S. cosmioides responderam à mistura heteroespecífica. Nos experimentos em campo, S. frugiperda e S. cosmioides mostraram o mesmo padrão de resposta observado nos bioensaios em túnel de vento. Em resumo, os componentes do feromônio sexual de S. cosmioides são Z9-14:OAc e Z9,E12-14:OAc, que são importantes para conferir espécie-especificidade do feromônio, e há atração cruzada entre S. cosmioides e S. frugiperda mediada por feromônios. Termos para indexação: acetato de (9Z)-9-tetradecenila, acetato de (9Z,12E)-9,12-tetradecadienila, atração cruzada, eletrofisiologia, monitoramento de pragas, armadilhas feromonais. M.C. Blassioli-Moraes et al.
Sex pheromones and attractants in the Eucosmini and Grapholitini (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae)
Chemoecology, 1996
and (Z,Z)-8,10-dodecadien-l-yl acetate were identified as sex pheromone components or sex attractants in the tribes Eucosmini and Grapholitini of the tortricid subfamily Olethreutinae. Species belonging to the more ancestral Tortricinae were not attracted. Each one isomer was behaviourally active in males of Cydia and Grapholita (Grapholitini), either as main pheromone compound, attraction synergist or attraction inhibitor. Their reciprocal attractive/antagonistic activity in a number of species enables specific communication with these four compounds. Pammene, as weil as other Grapholita and Cydia responded to the monoenic 8-or 10-dodecen-l-yl acetates. Of the tribes Olethreutini and Eucosmini, Hedya, Epiblema, Eucosma, and Notocelia trimaculana were also attracted to 8,10-dodecadien-l-yl acetates, but several other Notocelia to 10,12-tetradecadien-l-yl acetates. The female sex pheromones of C. fagiglandana, C. pyrivora, C. splendana, Epiblema foenella and Notocelia roborana were identified. (E,E)-and (E,Z)-8,10-dodecadien-l-yl acetate are produced via a common E9 desaturation pathway in C. splendana. Calling C. nigricana and C. fagiglandana females are attracted to wingfanning males.
Studies of the Female Sex Pheromone of the Native Budworm, Heliothis Punctiger
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 1982
Field screening tests indicated that males of the native budworm, Heliothis punctiger Wallengren (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) were attracted to a 20:20:1 mixture of (Z)‐11‐hexadecenal (Z11‐16:ALD), (Z)‐11‐hexadecenyl acetate (Z11‐16:Ac) and (Z)‐9‐tetradecenal (Z9‐14:ALD), respectively. Inconsistent results were obtained when the Z11‐16:Ac in the blend was replaced by the corresponding alcohol, (Z)‐11‐hexadecenol (Z11‐16:OH). The presence of Z11‐16:ALD, Z11‐16:Ac and Z11‐16:OH in ovipositor washings from virgin females was confirmed by gas chromatographic (GC) and electroantennographic (EAG) analyses. Despite the field results, there was no evidence of Z9‐14:ALD in the virgin female extracts although this compound would not have been detected at levels below 0.5% of the total pheromone blend.RÉSUMÉÉtude de la phéromone sexuelle des femelles d‘Heliothis punctigerDes études de terrain sur l'attraction des mâles d'Heliothis punctiger (Wallengren) par des substances chimiques montren...
Chemical communication in heliothine moths
1991
Helicoverpa zea males flew upwind and successfully contacted the source when presented with 2component blends consisting of their principal conspecific sex pheromone component, (Z)-11-hexadecenal, plus small amounts of (Z)-9-tetradecenal, a key secondary component in the Heliothzs vzrescens blend which has heretofore been considered antagonistic to H. zea pheromone-mediated behavior Neurophysiological studies of H zea antennal receptor neurons and central interneurons had suggested that this unexpected antagonistic effect on behavior might occur 2 When the amount of (Z)-9-tetradecenal in the blend reached 15% relative to the principal component its effect did become antagonistic with significantly more H zea males remaining quiescent Five-to-fifteen per cent (Z)-9-tetradecenal is emitted by H virescens in its pheromone blend, levels that evoked optimal upwind flight and source contact in H vzrescens males 3 As suggested by studies of H virescens antennal receptor neurons, H vzrescens males were unresponsive to the reciprocal inter-specific blend, comprised of (Z)-11-hexadecenal plus various percentages of (Z)-9-hexadecenal 4 Receptors that allow such mutual replacement of compounds might permit significant shifts in pheromone systems; a single mutation that drastically alters the female sex pheromone blend could still be carried in a population due to the successful attraction of normal males by mutant females Key words: Sex pheromones-Antenna1 neurons-(Z)-11-hexadecenal-Helicoverpa zea-Heliothis virescens
1992
Recent evidence suggests that the biogenic monoamine octopamine (OA) may be involved in the regulation of female sex-pheromone production in Lepidoptera. A radioenzymatic assay coupled with high performance liquid chromatography revealed the presence of OA in the innervated sex-pheromone gland of the corn earworm moth Helicoverpa (Heliothis) zea. Significantly more OA was found in glands just before the onset of scotophase (ca 320 fmol/gland), compared to levels at mid-photophase or just after the onset of seotophase (ca 160 fmol/gland). Exogenous OA had several actions on pheromone production. H. zea virgin females normally do not produce pheromone during the photophase, but highly significant levels of pheromone were induced by injection of OA into intact, day-2 photophase females. Importantly, this effect was absent in older females that showed increased levels of flight and oviposition activity. A second action of OA was revealed in isolated abdomen preparations from day-2 H. virescens females. Exogenous OA stimulated highly significant increases in pheromone production if abdomens were treated at the onset of seotophase, but not if they were treated in photophase. This critical period for OA action in these reduced preparations coincided with the time when peak levels of OA were present in the pheromone gland tissue. OA is therefore sufficient to induce pheromone production, but its actions in these short-lived insects depend on factors such as age and photoperiod. Diel fluctuations in OA levels in the pheromone gland, together with the observed pheromonotropic actions of this amine, support the hypothesis that OA is involved in the regulation of pheromone production in these insects.