Sex pheromone of female Myelois cribrella Hübner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) - Chemical identification, electrophysiological evaluation, and field attractancy tests

Females of Myelois cribrella contain about 20 ng/gland of the primary sex pheromone components (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, (9 Z,12 E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate, and (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate in proportions of 4:11:5, respectively. These physiologically active components are accompanied by a number of related compounds such as (Z)-9-tetradecen-1-ol, hexadecyl acetate, (9 Z,12 E)-9,12-tetradecadien-1-ol, (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol, octadecyl acetate, octadecan-1-ol, and eicosyl and docosyl acetates. Octadecyl acetate, the most abundant component, represents about 42 ng/female moth; however, no physiological activity could be attributed to it. In field tests, a trap baited with a 1-mg mixture of (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, (9 Z,12 E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate, and (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate in a ratio of 1:2:1 caught more male moths than three live female moths.