FIELD TRAPPING OF RHYNCHOPHORUS-PHOENICIS WITH STEREOISOMERS OF THE SYNTHETIC AGGREGATION PHEROMONE

The attractiveness of different pure or blended stereoisomers of synth etic aggregation pheromone of the weevil Rhynchophorus phoenicis (3-me thyl-4-octanol = phoenicol) associated to coconut stem was studied in field trapping. (3R,4R)-phoenicol (2 mg) was inactive to trap the weev il whereas (3S,4S)-phoenicol (2 mg) syn-phoenicol (1 mg(3R,4R)- + 1 mg (3S,4S)-phoenicol) and racemic phoenicol (blend containing 1 mg each of the 4 stereoisomers) were very attractive to the weevil, with equiv alent levels. (3S,4S)-Phoenicol, isomer produced by the insect is the sole active enantiomer of the syn-isomer. The non natural stereoisomer s did not present any detectable inhibitory effect Agricultural use of synthetic phoenicol and the role of chirality in the specificity of p heromone communication in Rhynchophorus phoenicis are discussed.