SPECIES DISCRIMINATION IN 5 SPECIES OF WINTER-FLYING GEOMETRIDS (LEPIDOPTERA) BASED ON CHIRALITY OF SEMIOCHEMICALS AND FLIGHT SEASON

Enantiomer separation of (6Z,9Z)-cis-3,4-epoxynonadecadiene and (3Z,9Z )-cis-6,7-epoxynonadecadiene could be achieved using chiral high-resol ution gas chromatography and a cyclodextrin-bond column. (3Z,9Z)-(6R,7 S)-Epoxynonadecadiene was identified from ovipositor extracts of Colot ois pennaria, while in Erannis defoliaria the 6S,7R-enantiomer was fou nd. In field trapping tests pure synthetic enantiomers caught only con specific males of these species. (3Z,6Z,9Z)-Nonadecatriene was found i n both species, while the presence of (3Z,6Z,9Z)-hencicosatriene was i ndicated in C. pennaria only. A 10:10:3 blend of (3Z,9Z)-(6R,7S)-epoxy nonadecadiene, (3Z,6Z,9Z)-heneicosatriene, and (3Z,6Z,9Z)-nonadecatrie ne was found to be optimal for catching C pennaria, while E. defoliari a males were optimally caught by a 1:1 mixture of (3Z,9Z)-(6S,7R)-epox ynonadecadiene and (3Z,6Z,9Z)-nonadecatriene. (6Z,9Z)-(3S,4R)-Epoxynon adecadiene was identified from ovipositor extracts of Agriopis (Eranni s) aurantiaria. In field tests the pure enantiomer proved to be a high ly specific sex attractant for both the late autumn/early winter flyin g A. aurantiaria and the late winter/early spring flying A. leucophear ia. Males of Agriopis marginaria, which fly in late winter/early sprin g, were attracted to (3Z,9Z)-(6S,7R)-epoxynonadecadiene. The addition of (3Z,6Z,9Z)-nonadecatriene to the S,R-enantiomer increased captures. Optimal catches were recorded with a 10: 3 epoxide-hydrocarbon blend. Enantiomer specificity in all species was confirmed in EAG measuremen ts.