cis-7,8-Epoxy-2-methyleicosane is a sex pheromone component of the Casuarin
a moth, Lymantria xylina Swinhoe. The compound was extracted from pheromone
glands of female moths and was identified by coupled gas chromatographic-e
lectroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and GC-mass spectrometry. In field
experiments in Taiwan, traps baited with either or both of (7R,8S)-cis-7,8-
epoxy-2-methyleicosane (>99% eel [termed here (+)-xylinalure] and (7S,8R)-c
is-7,8-epoxy-2-methyleicosane (>99% eel [termed here (-)-xylinalure] captur
ed male L. xylina. Addition of further candidate pheromone components to xy
linalure did not enhance its attractiveness. Demonstration of whether or no
t female L. xylina produce both optical isomers of xylinalure, and determin
ation of the ratio, will require pheromone extract analyses on a chiral, en
antiomer-separating column (as yet unavailable) or derivatization of epoxid
es in accumulated gland extracts. Attraction of male L. xylina to either en
antiomer of xylinalure contrasts with enantiospecific production of, and/or
response to, epoxy pheromones in congeners. With no other nocturnal lymant
riid moth known in Taiwan to utilize xylinalure for pheromonal communicatio
n, enantiospecific "fine tuning" of xylinalure, or evolution of a more comp
lex pheromone blend, may not have been necessary for L. xylina to maintain
specificity of sexual communication. Racemic xylinalure will be appropriate
for pheromone-based detection surveys of L, xylina in North America.