Synthetic Juvenile Hormone: Induction of Sex Pheromone Production in <i>Ips confusus</i>

Abstract

Topical application of 25, 50, or 100 micrograms of 10,11-epoxy-farnesenic acid methyl ester in peanut oil induced male Ips confusus to produce sex pheromone in the hindgut Malpighian tubule region. Twenty-four hours aftertreatment of male beetles with 100 micrograms of hormone, their hindgut Malpighian tubule extract was more attractive to female beetles in a laboratory bioassay than was extract from males producing pheromone naturally in ponderosa pine logs.