Biological Activity of the Synthesized Sex Pheromone and Its Geometrical Isomers of Spodoptera litura (F.)(Lepidoptera:Noctuidae)

Biological activities of the synthesized female sex phermone and its geometrical isomers of Spodoptera litura (F.) were examined by a laboratory bioassay. A mixture of cis-9, trans-11-tetradecadien-1-ol acetate (cis-9, trans-11-TDDA) and cis-9, trans-12-tetradecadien-1-ol acetate (cis-9, trans-12-TDDA), the natural pheromonal components, was much more active than any other combinations between geometrical isomers of 9, 11-TDDA and 9, 12-TDDA. cis-9, trans-11-TDDA and cis-9, trans-12-TDDA evoked a weak response of the male moths at the levels higher than 10-2 μg when the compounds were presented individually. Biological activities of the compounds were synergistically enhanced by mixing the two compounds (BR5050 : 10-5 μg). The optimum ratio of the two compounds in the mixture was 9 parts of cis-9, trans-11-TDDA and 1 part of cis-9, trans-12-TDDA.Biological importance of quantitative relationships among multiple components of an insect sex pheromone was discussed.