Identification of sex pheromone components of Spodoptera sunia Guenée (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Moths belonging to the species Spodoptera sunia have been recognized as a new pest of cotton in Central America. By means of electro-physiologic investigations, solid sample injection gas chromatography, and combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, (9 Z,12 E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate, (Z)-9-tetradecen-1-ol, and (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate, in a ratio of 100:5:31:20, were identified in the pheromone gland of female insects. These substances should serve as a base for the development of a pheromone-monitoring system for this lepidopteran pest.