SEX-PHEROMONE COMPONENTS OF THE SPRING HEMLOCK LOOPER, LAMBDINA-ATHASARIA (WALKER) (LEPIDOPTERA, GEOMETRIDAE)

Two methylated hydrocarbons, 7-methylheptadecane (7) and 7,11-dimethyl heptadecane (7,11), are female sex pheromone components of the spring hemlock looper (SHL), Lambdina athasaria (Walker). Compounds extracted from female pheromone glands were identified by coupled gas chromatog raphic-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and coupled GC-mass sp ectrometry (GC-MS) in selected ion monitoring mode. In field trapping experiments, (7) and (7,11) by themselves were behaviorally inactive, but in combination attracted numerous male moths. (5,11)-Dimethylhepta decane (5,11) was detected in female SHL pheromone gland extracts, but did not enhance attraction to the binary blend of (7) and (7,11). The sex pheromone of SHL is related to that of congeneric eastern hemlock looper (EHL), Lambdina fiscellaria fiscellaria (Guen.) [(5,11) and 2, 5-dimethylheptadecane (2,5)] and western hemlock looper (WHL), L.f. lu gubrosa (Hulst) [(5,11), (2,5) and (7)]. Specificity of the pheromonal blend, spatial separation of coseasonal EHL and WHL, and temporal sep aration of sympatric EHL and SHL contribute to reproductive isolation.