SEX-PHEROMONE OF THE PLANT BUG PHYTOCORIS-CALIFORNICUS (HETEROPTERA, MIRIDAE)

The sex attractant pheromone produced by adult females of the mirid bu g Phytocoris californicus Knight has been identified as a 2:1 blend of hexyl acetate and E2-octenyl acetate. The pheromone is stage-, sex-, and species-specific, attracting only adult male P. californicus. Hexy l acetate was identified in aeration extracts from both sexes, whereas E2-octenyl acetate was produced only by females. Both males and femal es also produced hexyl butyrate and hexanol, whereas only females prod uced octyl acetate, E2-hexenyl and octenyl acetates, Z3-octenyl acetat e, and E2-octenyl butyrate. The function(s) of the chemicals that were not part of the attractant pheromone were not determined. Attraction of males increased with dose over a dose range of 0.1-33 mg loaded on gray rubber septa. Attractiveness of rubber septum lures decreased qui ckly with age because of the volatility of the 2 pheromone components.