The Sex Pheromone of the Silver Y Moth Chrysodeixis eriosoma (Doubleday) in New Zealand

Abstract

Abstract An investigation of the sex pheromone of the New Zealand Silver Y Moth Chrysodeixis erio­soma (Doubleday), formerly described as Plusia chalcites (Esper) resulted in the identification of the major active components as 7Z-and 9Z-dodecenyl acetates, in approx. 97:3 ratio. This blend was attractive to C. eriosoma males in the field and in a laboratory flight tunnel. 5Z-D odecenyl acetate and 7Z-dodecenyl alcohol inhibited this response in the field. C. eriosoma was also attract­ed to the 5:1 blend of 7Z-dodecenyl acetate and 9Z-tetradecenyl acetate reported as the phero­mone of Chrysodeixis (Plusia) chalcites in the western Palaearctic. Specialist receptor cells for all 5 compounds mentioned were found in male antennal sensilla in both species.