Sex pheromone of apple blotch leafminer, Phyllonorycter crataegella, and its effect on P-mespilella pheromone communication

(Z)-10,(Z)-12-Tetradecadienyl acetate (Z10,Z12-14:OAc) and (E)-10,(E)-12-te tradecadienyl acetate (E10,E12-14:OAc) are sex pheromone components of the apple blotch leafminer (ABLM), Phyllonorycter crataegella. Compounds extrac ted from female pheromone glands were identified by coupled gas chromatogra phic-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) analyses, retention index cal culations of BAD-active compounds, and by comparative CC-BAD analyses of fe male ABLM-produced and authentic (synthetic) compounds. In field experiment s in apple Malus domestica orchards in Connecticut, Z10,Z12-14:OAc done att racted ABLM males. Addition of E10,E12-14:OAc to 210,Z12-14:OAc at 0.1:10 o r 1:10 ratios enhanced attractiveness of the lure. Geometrical isomers Z10, E12- or E10,Z12-14:OAc at equivalent ratios were behaviorally benign and sl ightly inhibitory, respectively. In field experiments in British Columbia, Z10,Z12-14:OAc plus E10,E12-14:OAc did not attract Phyllonorycter moths, su pporting the contention that ABLM is not present in the fruit growing regio ns of British Columbia. Z10,Z12-14:OAc added to P. mespilella pheromone, (E )-4,(E)10-dodecadienyl acetate, strongly inhibited response by P. mespilell a males. Recognition of the ABLM pheromone blend by allopatric P. mespilell a males suggests a phylogenetic relationship and previous sympatry of these two Phyllonorycter spp. If pheromonal attraction of ABLM males were recipr ocally inhibited by P. mespilella pheromone, a generic Phyllonorycter phero mone blend could be tested for pheromone-based mating disruption of the app le leaf-mining Phyllonorycter guild in North America.