A Sex Pheromone Study of a Fruit Fly Drosophila virilis STURTEVANT(Diptera:Drosophilidae):Additive Effect of Cuticular Alkadienes to the Major Sex Pheromone

Abstract

A mixture of 3 synthetic alkadienes, (Z, Z)-5, 13-, (Z, Z)-5-15-pentacosadiene and (Z, Z)-7, 15-heptacosadiene, that had been identified in extracts of cuticular hydrocarbon of the female fruit flies Drosophila virilis STURTEVANT, was found to have an additive effect to the courtship response of males to the previously identified major sex pheromone component (Z)-11-pentacosene. The mixture itself was, however, not effective to elicit a long courtship about. The reasons why the mixture of 3 alkadienes was not effective to elicit a long courtship about is discussed.