Sex pheromone blend of the pandora moth (Lepidoptera : Saturniidae), an outbreak pest in pine forests (Pinaceae)

The female-produced sex pheromone blend of the pandora moth, Coloradia pan dora pandora Blake, a pest responsible for periodic defoliation of pine for ests in the western United States, has been identified. The pheromone consi sted of a mixture of E10,Z12-hexadecadienal, E10,Z12-hexadecadienyl acetate , and E10,E12-hexadecadienyl acetate, All three components were essential f or optimal attraction. E10,Z12-Hexadecadienol, tentatively identified in tr ace amounts in pheromone gland extracts, elicited strong responses from mal e antennae in coupled gas chromatography electroantennogram analyses but ha d no apparent effect as a pheromone component at physiologically relevant l evels. Hexadecanal, octadecanal, and hexadecyl acetate also were identified in extracts of female pheromone glands but elicited no responses from male antennae, nor did they appear to be components of the attractant blend. In held trials, each trap baited with the optimized three-component blend of E10,Z12-hexadcoattienal, E10,Z12-hexadecadienyl acetate, and E10,E12-hexade cadienyl acetate captured an average of more than 40 male moths per night.