Sex pheromone blends for rice caseworm Paraponyx stagnalis Zeller

Studies on sex pheromone of rice caseworm, Paraponyx stagnalis (Zeller) using EAG and GC-MS indicated the presence of four pheromone compounds viz., Z-13-octadecenyl acetate, Z-9-hexadecenal, Z-11-hexadecenal and Z-11-hexadecenyl acetate in the ovipositor extract. Five different blends prepared from the tentatively identified compounds were evaluated for their field efficacy in rice fields at Pattambi, Kerala. Pheromone blends with Z-13-Octadecenyl acetate alone and with Z-11-Hexadecenal as a two component blend in the ratio of 1: 1 were found promising in attracting more number male moths of rice caseworm in the field study.