SEX-PHEROMONE OF CABBAGE APHID BREVICORYNE-BRASSICAE - IDENTIFICATIONAND FIELD TRAPPING OF MALE APHIDS AND PARASITOIDS

The sex pheromone of the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae, is show n by GC and CC-MS analysis of pheromone entrained from sexual females, and by electrophysiological studies on single cell preparations from male antennae, to comprise (4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactone. The compound pr oved to be attractive in a laboratory bioassay and release of the pher omone from glass vials placed above water traps in crops of autumn bra ssicaceous crops increased the catch of males of this species. The spe cialist parasitoid of B. brassicae, Diaeretiella rapae, and the more g eneral aphid parasitoid Praon volucre were found in significantly larg er numbers in pheromone traps as compared to the controls, under certa in conditions.