PHEROMONE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SIBLING TAXA DIACHRYSIA-CHRYSITIS (LINNAEUS, 1758) AND D-TUTTI (KOSTROWICKI, 1961) (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE)

The noctuid sibling taxa Diachrysia chrpsitis s. str. and D. tutti, of yet uncertain taxonomic status, have previously been shown to possess differences in morphology and to be attracted to different mixtures o f the two presumed pheromone components (Z)-5-decenyl acetate and (Z)- 7-decenyl acetate. Typical D. tutti males (clearly broken forewing mar king) are known to respond to a 2:100 mixture of the two isomers, wher eas D. chrysitis males (unbroken marking) are attracted to a 100:10 mi xture. We investigated female pheromone production and male electroant ennographic (EAG) response in Diachrysia families raised in the labora tory from held-collected gravid females. Extracts of individual female s from typical D. tutti and D. chrysitis families were subjected to ga s chromatography with simultaneous flame ionization and electroantenno graphic detection. All females produced mixtures of Z5- and Z7-10:OAc, but female D. chrysitis produced predominantly Z5-10:OAc