Sex pheromone of Etiella behrii, a pod borer of soybean in Indonesia: identification and field attraction

Four EAG-active components were detected in GC-EAG analyses of hexane extra cts from virgin Etiella behrii (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) females. T hese components were identified as dodecyl acetate (12: Ac), (E)-9-dodeceny l acetate (E9-12: Ac), either (Z)-9- or (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9- or E11-14: Ac), and (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (Z11-14: Ac) by comparison of retention indices on both nonpolar and polar GC columns. The available ext ract was insufficient for further GC-MS or other chemical analyses (<0.2 ng /female). In field tests carried out in East Java, a 10:90 mixture of E9-12 : Ac and Z11-14: Ac showed attractiveness to male moths and addition of 12: Ac and/or E11-14: Ac significantly increased the trap catches while additi on of Z9-14: Ac showed no significant effect. Maximum attraction was obtain ed with 5.35 or 10.7 mu g/rubber septum of a mixture of E9-12: Ac, Z11-14: Ac, 12: Ac and E11-14: Ac at the ratio of 10: 90: 0.7: 6.3, respectively. T he role of pheromone blends in species discrimination between E. behrii and the related E. zinckenella (Treitschke) is discussed.