SOLID-PHASE MICRO EXTRACTION TECHNIQUE USED FOR COLLECTING SEMIOCHEMICALS - IDENTIFICATION OF VOLATILES RELEASED BY INDIVIDUAL SIGNALING PHYLLONORYCTER SYLVELLA MOTHS

The SPME (solid phase micro extraction) technique was used in the coll ection of volatiles released by calling females of the 4-6 mm long ten tiform leafminer moth Phyllonorycter sylvella (Lepidoptera, Gracillari idae). The volatiles released by the calling P. sylvella females were identified by CC-MS as a mixture of Z10-tetradecenyl acetate (92%), E1 0-tetradecenyl acetate (2%) and Z8-tetradecenyl acetate (6%). The amou nt of volatiles released by one calling female during three hours and collected on a polydimethylsiloxane fibre, was as large as the amount extracted from the glands of 20 females. The SPME technique gives the opportunity of continuously following the release of behaviour mediate d signals from weak scented living organisms.