Sex pheromones of Phyllonorycter acerifoliella and Ph. heegerella and communication peculiarities in three species of leafmining moths

Females of the leaf miner moth Phyllonorycter acerifoliella (Z.) [=Ph. sylv ella (Hw.)] and Ph. heegerella (Z.) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae: Lithocoll etinae) release their sex pheromone at the beginning of photophase. The per iodicity of the 'calling' behaviour of Ph. acerifoliella females was establ ished. Three compounds from calling virgin Ph. heegerella females were coll ected by the Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME) technique and identified a s (Z)-8-tetradecenyl acetate (Z8-14:OAc), tetradecyl acetate (14:OAc) and ( Z)-8-tetradecenol (Z8-14:OH) in the ratio (88 +/- 3):(2 +/- 0.6):(10 +/- 5) by capillary gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Field trapping expe riments demonstrated that the first two compounds are important for the att raction of conspecific males. Z8-14:OAc was found to be attractive when tes ted separately, while 14:OAc acted as synergist. The attractivity of the th ree component blend was reduced by 10% admixture of either (E)-10-dodecenyl acetate (E10-12:OAc) or (Z)-10-tetradecenyl acetate (Z10-14:OAc). Field tests of Z10-, Z8- and E10-14:OAc, identified from Ph. acerifoliella females, demonstrated that the first two compounds were essential for the a ttraction of conspecific males; so both are sex pheromone components. The a ttractivity of the three component blend of Z10- Z8- and E10-14:OAc was red uced by 10% admixture of (E)-10-dodecenol (E10-12:OH). The following four s emiochemical compounds, Z8-14:OAc, Z8-14:OH, E10-14:OAc and 14:OAc, identif ied from phyllonoryctid females, as well as two sex attraction antagonists for Ph. acerifoliella and Ph. heegerella males, E10-12:OAc and Z10-14:OAc, are new for the family Gracillariidae. The results of field trapping experi ments revealed mechanisms ensuring the specificity of the chemocommunicatio n systems in Ph. acerifoliella, Ph. heegerella and Ph. ulmifoliella (Hb.) m oths.