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Science 22 June 1979:
Vol. 204. no. 4399, pp. 1328 - 1330
DOI: 10.1126/science.204.4399.1328
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Articles

Trace Chemicals: The Essence of Sexual Communication Systems in Heliothis Species

J. A. KLUN 1, J. R. PLIMMER 1, B. A. BIERL-LEONHARDT 1, A. N. SPARKS 2, and O. L. CHAPMAN 3

1 Organic Chemical Synthesis Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705
2 Southern Grain Insects Research Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Tifton, Georgia 31794
3 Department of Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles 90024

Analysis of heptane-soluble compounds from ovipositors of Heliothis zea and Heliothis virescens shows that both species produce relatively large amounts of (Z)-11-hexadecenal, with traces of (Z)-9-hexadecenal, (Z)-7-hexadecenal, and hexadecanal. Heliothis virescens females differ from Heliothis zea in that they also produce trace amounts of tetradecanal, (Z)-9-tetradecenal, and (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol. In both species, trace compounds are essential to pheromonal activity and specificity of chemical signals.

Submitted on December 22, 1978
Revised on March 27, 1979


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
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Experimental evidence for interspecific directional selection on moth pheromone communication.
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Brain Factor Control of Sex Pheromone Production in the Female Corn Earworm Moth.
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